US swimmer braves pain, sharks on Cuba crossing

Attempt to get 'the two countries closer':

Cuba: A 61-year-old US swimmer battled shoulder pain and asthma in shark-infested waters off Cuba on Monday at the start of a trip to the United States aimed at promoting closer ties between the Cold War foes. "We want these three days to help the two countries get closer," Diana Nyad told a press conference in Havana before embarking on her marathon swim, adding she also hoped to show that people can lead active lives after 60. "I am a better athlete today than I was at 29," she told CNN.

A CNN producer following the journey by boat said that after 18 hours, Nyad had completed about a quarter of the 100-mile (166-kilometer) trip from Havana to the Florida Keys and was battling more than currents and the risk of sharks. "Everything's going well. Havana, Tuesday, AFP