Nyad keeps steady in swimming record attempt

HAVANA — Endurance athlete Diana Nyad forged ahead through the Straits of Florida with renewed vigor Sunday in pursuit of a record 103-mile unassisted open-water swim without the aid of a shark cage.

The 62-year-old Los Angeles woman was said to be comfortable, confident and steady at around 50 strokes per minute after a harrowing night of painful jellyfish encounters — despite a new-and-improved bodysuit she hoped would offer better protection.

Nyad was stung four times during the night on the neck, lips, hand and forehead, according to members of her 50-member crew who updated fans through social media.

"Today is more like swimming," one member quoted her as saying, via Twitter. "I don't know what you would call last night ... probably surviving."

At 18 hours into the swim, she had traveled 21.7 miles from Havana. Choppy seas were calmer, and her team reported only a light wind.

Nyad had planned to don the bodysuit, which covers her from head to toe except for holes for the eyes, nose and mouth, at night, when jellyfish tend to rise to the surface. But it apparently did not work as well as anticipated.

At least two of the stings were from the dangerous box jellyfish, which forced her to cut short her second of two attempts last year as toxins built up in her system.

At one point, with jellyfish particles everywhere in the water, Nyad changed strokes to keep her face out of harm's way.

"There are so many jellyfish," said another tweet. "Diana is swimming backstroke right now leading with the cap-covered part of her head to minimize contact."