Veteran U.S. long distance swimmer Diana Nyad is making her third attempt to swim the 166 kilometres (103 miles) from Cuba to Florida.<br/> The 62-year-old launched herself into Hemingway Marina in Havana for a swim expected to take a gruelling 60 hours.<br/> She's being accompanied across the Florida Straits by a fleet of small boats and a support team of about 30 people.<br/> Nyad first attempted the Cuba-Florida swim in 1978 but quit after almost 42 hours in open sea because of current and weather conditions.<br/> She tried it again in August this year but abandoned that attempt after 29 hours because of a lengthy asthma attack, shoulder pain and heavy seas.<br/> This time she's going prepared with medication at the ready to tackle shoulder problems and asthma, and plans to eat more during her periodic breaks for liquids and food.<br/> She's also protected from sharks by a device that uses a mild electrical current to ward off the predators.<br/> The Florida Straits crossing was successfully completed in May 1997 by 22-year-old Australian Susan Maroney who swam in a cage to protect her from sharks.
