Fill in the Blanks What makes an Olympic champion?Online version 8th graders by luis alvarado 1 In 2013 , an swimmer named Diana Nyad became the first person to swim from Cuba to Florida without using a shark cage . Nyad had unsuccefully attempted the 177 - kilometer swim several times before , but at age 64 , she finally completed it . The swim Nyad to be in the water for nearly 53 hours . A 35 - person team came with her , and ( unlike her previous attempts ) she wore a special suit and mask to keep jellyfish off her skin . Some suggested this equipment her performance , though Nyad claimed it actually slowed her down . What this succesful attempt from Nyad's four previous attempts ? Importantly , the she made to her equipment helped - she was previously stung many times by jellyfish . But experts believe the main difference was Nyad's mental determination , since her struggle was just as much as physical . Her determination wa so strong that even though she felt sick for much of the journey , she never gave up .
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