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Diana Nyad Keynote Speaker and marathon swimmer

Diana Nyad

Marathon Swimmer, Cuba to Florida Without a Shark Cage | Bestselling Author, Find a Way | Subject of the Oscar-Nominated Film NYAD

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At 64, on her fifth attempt over more than three decades, Diana Nyad swam 110 miles from Cuba to Florida without a shark cage. The marathon swimmer, bestselling author of Find a Way, and subject of the Oscar-nominated film NYAD shows audiences what it takes to pursue a dream relentlessly, build a team that will not quit, and find a way through every setback.

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    Diana Nyad biography

    Motivational speaker Diana Nyad is one of the world’s most celebrated endurance athletes and an enduring symbol of perseverance. On September 2, 2013, on her fifth attempt across more than three decades, she swam 110.86 miles from Havana to Key West without a shark cage, reaching the Florida shore after nearly 53 hours in the open ocean. She was 64 years old.

    Long before that swim, Nyad was one of the great marathon swimmers of her generation, and she went on to a career of more than thirty years as a sports journalist and broadcaster, filing for National Public Radio, The New York Times, and other outlets. She is the author of four books, including the bestselling memoir Find a Way: The Inspiring Story of One Woman’s Pursuit of a Lifelong Dream, and performed her one-woman play The Swimmer to sold-out audiences off-Broadway. She has been inducted into the International Women’s Sports Hall of Fame and the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame.

    From the Florida Straits to the Big Screen

    Nyad’s story reached a global audience in NYAD, the Academy Award-nominated feature film starring Annette Bening and Jodie Foster and directed by Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi. Her TED talk, “Never, ever give up”, has inspired millions. President Obama welcomed her to the Oval Office and invited her to join his 2014 visit to Havana, and Oprah Winfrey extended her SuperSoul Sunday interview to a two-hour episode, the first in the show’s history. With her longtime friend and coach Bonnie Stoll, she leads EverWalk, a national walking movement, and its OceansCommit shoreline walks against single-use plastic.

    As a speaker, Diana Nyad brings fierce energy, humor, and unforgettable storytelling to every stage. Drawing on decades of training, failure, and triumph, she shows audiences how to commit to a bold goal, build a team that keeps going when conditions turn brutal, and find a way forward at any age. Audiences leave inspired and ready to tackle their own seemingly impossible challenges.

    Diana Nyad Speaking Videos

    Diana Nyad: Extreme swimming with the world's most dangerous jellyfish
    Never, ever give up | Diana Nyad

    Diana Nyad Speaking Topics

    Nyad’s swim from Cuba to Florida depended on a crew of navigators, medics, shark divers, and coaches working in perfect coordination for more than two days at sea. She shares what that team taught her about trust, shared purpose, and performing under extreme pressure, and how leaders can build high-performance teams that stay resilient when everything goes wrong.

    After four failed attempts and a gap of more than three decades, Nyad finally completed her lifelong goal at 64. Drawing on her bestselling memoir, she outlines the mindset and practical steps for pursuing goals of any size, and challenges audiences to commit fully to the dreams they have set aside.

    Jellyfish stings, storms, and exhaustion ended attempt after attempt. Nyad explains how she used each failure to refine her strategy and strengthen her resolve, offering audiences a candid, energizing model for persisting through adversity in business and in life.

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    FAQs on Booking Diana Nyad

    Booking Diana Nyad brings your audience one of the most inspiring stories of perseverance in modern sport. After five attempts over more than three decades, she swam 110 miles from Cuba to Florida without a shark cage, a journey now told in the Oscar-nominated film NYAD. A bestselling author, veteran broadcaster, and Hall of Fame athlete, she is a powerful, funny, and deeply moving storyteller who leaves audiences ready to pursue their own bold goals. She is an ideal choice for leadership conferences, sales meetings, and events focused on resilience and teamwork. To book Diana Nyad, contact Aurum Speakers Bureau and one of our founders will respond within 24 hours.

    On September 2, 2013, Diana Nyad completed a swim of 110.86 miles from Havana to Key West without a shark cage, in about 52 hours and 54 minutes. It was her fifth attempt at the crossing, which she first tried in 1978.

    Yes. NYAD, the Academy Award-nominated feature film starring Annette Bening as Diana Nyad and Jodie Foster as her coach Bonnie Stoll, tells the story of her Cuba to Florida swim. It was directed by Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi.

    Nyad speaks on teamwork and high performance, pursuing dreams at any age, and resilience through failure. Each keynote is tailored to the audience. Contact Aurum Speakers Bureau to customize a session for your event.

    Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Diana Nyad as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Diana Nyad's availability for a speaking engagement. One of our booking agents will respond to your request immediately and contact the speaker to let them know you want to hire them. We will assist you with obtaining speaking fees, booking information, and confirming availability for Diana Nyad or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.

    Diana Nyad speaking fees are determined by several factors, including the event's date, whether it's a virtual or in-person event, the duration, format, preparation required for their speech, and more. The same applies to the cost to hire any other top expert speakers and celebrities. The Speaker Fee Range listed on our website is simply a guideline and is subject to change without notice. If you would like to hire Diana Nyad to deliver a keynote speech for your event, please fill out the contact form or email us at info@aurumbureau.com with as much detail as possible. One of our experienced agents will get in touch with you and let you know exactly how much it will cost to book Diana Nyad.

    We only work with Diana Nyad on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Diana Nyad and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Diana Nyad speak at your event. We will be your sole point of contact throughout the process. Get in touch with Aurum Speakers Bureau today, and we will reach out to any motivational speaker or celebrity you want to enquire about speaking at your event. If you wish to contact Diana Nyad for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.

    Yes, Diana Nyad is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Diana Nyad for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.