Diana Nyad Raises $100,000 During 48-Hour Marathon Swim for Hurricane Sandy Victims

Distance swimmer Diana Nyad completed her two-day marathon swim yesterday morning much to the delight of throngs of cheering New Yorkers. For 48 hours, the 64-year-old athlete continuously swam laps in a 40-foot pool in Herald Square to raise money for the victims of Hurricane Sandy.

Several volunteers including five-time Olympic gold medalist Ryan Lochte, fitness expert Richard Simmons and Roscoe, a dog who survived Sandy’s floodwaters, paddled beside Nyad for parts of her journey. Though Nyad exited the pool to use the bathroom, she consumed all her meals while treading water.

After finishing her exhausting mission at 8:47 AM on Thursday morning, Nyad said that her favorite swim companions were the firefighters of New York and the NYPD. “They were the people who were really worth seeing when they showed up,” she said.

Nyad raised more than $100,000 during her two-day swimming streak. The funds will be distributed by the disaster relief agency, AmeriCares Foundation.

Photo credit: AP