Born in 1949, Diana Nyad took an early interest in swimming as a sport and was a Florida State High School swimming champion. Like many young athletes, she had Olympic dreams, but a serious illness kept her from competing in the Games. The disappointment didn't stop her from going forward. Instead, she became interested in marathon swimming. A brilliant athlete, she was well- conditioned for spending long periods of time in the water. As a long-distance swimmer, she would compete against herself and the obstacles presented by distance, danger, cold, and exhaustion.
For ten years Nyad devoted herself to becoming one of the world's best long-distance swimmers. In 1970, she swam a ten-mile marathon in Lake Ontario, setting the women's record for the course. In 1972 she set another record by swimming 102.5 miles from an island in the Bahamas to the coast of Florida. Then she broke a third record when swimming around Manhattan Island in 1975.
Nyad attempted to swim the distance between Florida and Cuba in 1978. Though the span of water is less than 100 miles wide, it is rough and dangerous. After battling the water for two days, she had to give up for the sake of her own health and safety. Even so, she impressed the world with her courage and strong desire to succeed. For Nyad her strength of purpose was just as important as reaching Cuba. That is how she defined success. It did not matter that her swim came up short; she believed she had touched the other shore.
When Nyad ended her career as a swimmer, she continued to try new things--
-travelling the world as a reporter, writing books and giving public speeches about her life. Diana Nyad works to inspire others, just as she did when she swam the waters of the world.
(1)What prevented Nyad from taking part in the Olympic Games? (No more than 5 words)
A serious illness (did).
A serious illness (did).
(2)What does the underlined word "obstacles" mean? (1 word)Difficulties/Problems/Troubles/Challenges.
Difficulties/Problems/Troubles/Challenges.
(3)What achievement did Nyad make in 1970? (No more than 10 words.)She swam a ten-mile marathon and set women's record.
Or: She swam a ten-mile marathon, setting the women's record.
Or: She set the women's record for a ten-mile marathon swimming.
She swam a ten-mile marathon and set women's record.
Or: She swam a ten-mile marathon, setting the women's record.
Or: She set the women's record for a ten-mile marathon swimming.
(4)Why did Nyad believe that she had touched the other shore? (No more than10 words)Because she had tried her best (to fulfill the task).
Or: Her strength of purpose was as important as reaching Cuba.
Because she had tried her best (to fulfill the task).
Or: Her strength of purpose was as important as reaching Cuba.
(5)Please explain how you are inspired by Nyad. (No more than 15 words)I am encouraged by her determination and strong will.
Or: I am inspired by her courage and strong desire to succeed.
Or: From her I learned that once we set a goal, we should try hard to achieve it.
Or: We should never give up in the face of difficulty/failure.
Or: We should never stop trying new things and we may achieve success in different fields.
I am encouraged by her determination and strong will.
Or: I am inspired by her courage and strong desire to succeed.
Or: From her I learned that once we set a goal, we should try hard to achieve it.
Or: We should never give up in the face of difficulty/failure.
Or: We should never stop trying new things and we may achieve success in different fields.