Summaries

Synopsis

In 2010, sixty-year-old Diana Nyad (Annette Bening) resolves to accomplish the one thing that has eluded her-a 110-mile nonstop swim from Cuba to Florida, which she had unsuccessfully attempted thirty years prior. Diana Nyad was a champion swimmer in her heydays and had completed many milestones such as Capri to Naples, 32 miles across Lake Ontario, 28 miles around Manhattan Island, 89 miles from Bahamas to Florida (which was the open ocean record at the time). Nyad wanted the Cuba to Florida swim to be her last flourish, at which she failed.

Diana has just turned 60 and is looking for a fresh challenge. Diana is in good physical condition and exercises regularly. She tests herself by getting into a swimming pool for the first time in 30 years and loves the experience. Diana goes back to the pool again and again, spending up to 5 hours in the water.Diana announces to Bonnie her plan to complete her dream of swimming from Cuba to Florida.

She appoints her best friend and former partner, Bonnie Stoll (Jodie Foster), to train her. Diana and Bonnie complete a test run off the coast of Mexico and now Bonnie is also convinced that Diana might be able to pull it off. Diana freezes up due to the cold ocean water and is ready to give up. Bonnie motivates Diana by saying that she spoke to experts who concur that a woman of Diana's age can not complete the Cuba to Miami swim. This spurs Diana for another go in Mexico.Despite public skepticism because of her age, Diana relocates to Key West with Bonnie for her training and hires navigator John Bartlett (Rhys Ifans) to accompany her on her swim. The navigator is a critical role as the gulf stream flows eastward while Diana would want to go North. Without the right person to navigate through the currents, Diana would spend hours in the water, without making any progress. This is what she believes went wrong in her first attempt, the wrong person navigating her.In lieu of a shark cage (which Diana says makes it an aided swim), Diana opts to swim with a Shark Shield, a shark repellent electronic device.On Apr 20, 2011, Diana does a 24-hour test run to prepare the main event which is 60 hours long. Dee Brady (Karly Rothenberg) is the official captain. After the test swim, the team receives their visas for Cuba, and the attempt is a go.

In August 2011, Diana makes her first attempt at swimming the Florida Straits since 1978. Only 12 people have ever swam over 48 hours straight and Diana is attempting the most dangerous course of them all.However, unfavorable ocean currents pushing her off course force her to quit early after 42 hours. She also had an allergic reaction to a wrong pain medication given to her by the official medic.On her second attempt a month later, she gets stung by box jellyfish. The new lead medic Jon Rose (Garland Scott) jumps in to save her, but he is also ensnared by the jellyfish and has to be rescued. A shot is administered to Diana for the venom, but she insists on continuing to swim with her injury. After some initial resistance, Bonnie and John oblige her, but Diana gets stung again and briefly loses consciousness. She is resuscitated on the boat.

Diana recovers in a hospital, where Bonnie expresses her worry to Diana about the severity of the dangers and warns her, she is letting her personal dream overtake the safety of the boat crew. Diana pleads for another try after training for one more year. Diana consults with a box jellyfish expert, who gives her a specially designed protective suit. Diana's swims and training are interspersed with flashbacks that show her upbringing and her sexual abuse at the hands of her childhood swimming coach, Jack Nelson (Eric T. Miller).

In August 2012, Diana makes another attempt, despite warnings from John about bad weather conditions. But Diana proceeds with the attempt as within 2 weeks the water will be too cold, and she will lose an entire year. John tells Bonnie that Diana plays her like a fiddle and has no concern for what other feel.A thunderstorm breaks out during Diana's swim and John's boat starts to flood. Bonnie calls for Diana to abort the mission despite Diana's pleas to keep going. Back on land, Diana refuses to admit defeat and plans for another try, prompting a fight between her and Bonnie. Bonnie calls out Diana's self-centered nature and laments how she has put aside her own dreams just to support Diana, before quitting as trainer.

Sometime later, Diana calls John and apologizes for her behavior. John accepts the apology but admits he can't do another run because of more pressing concerns, including financial stability. Diana visits Bonnie and the two reconcile. Bonnie informs Diana that Nelson passed away, and the news compels Diana to reflect on her trauma. Nelson was still in the Swimming Hall of Fame even after many of the girls trained by him came forward and shared their stories of abuse at his hands.

Bonnie later decides to train Diana again after realizing the closeness of their bond. John also returns as navigator; he discloses to Bonnie that he is in ill health and wants one last opportunity to see what Diana can do.

Diana begins her fifth attempt on August 31, 2013; this time she is helped by more favorable currents. Danger arises when a shark approaches and the Shark Shield is not properly functioning. Assistants from the boat's crew jump in the water in time to ward off the shark, which swims away. Hours later, Diana's body is showing signs of exhaustion. She has hallucinatory visions of the Yellow Brick Road from The Wizard of Oz and the Taj Mahal. To help motivate her, Bonnie jumps into the water and implores Diana to give it one last push. When the coastline of Key West is in sight, the crew excitedly informs Diana that they are getting closer.

On September 2, Diana makes it to the shore of Key West, where hordes of spectators and fans are gathered to watch. She emerges from the water and gradually ascends onto the beach, prompting celebrations from the crowd. Asked by the press to speak, Diana says she wants to say three things: "One, never, ever give up. Two, you're never too old to chase your dreams. And three, it may look like a solitary sport...but it takes a team."