Just Keep Swimming, Never Give Up

October 16, 2014
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Thoughts from the Top – Valerie Freeman, Imprimis Group CEO

I had the privilege of meeting and speaking with Diana Nyad, the athlete who swam from Cuba to Key West at age 64 in 2013.  It took her 52 hours and 54 minutes to make the 100.86 mile journey. She is the first woman to accomplish this feat without a shark cage.  If you remember seeing her getting out of the water at the finish line, she looked awful (and that is being kind).  But she recovered and when I met her, I found her to be an attractive, enthusiastic, friendly and personable woman who did not look her 64 years of age.

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Diana Nyad, American author, journalist, motivational speaker, and long-distance swimmer, and Valerie Freeman, Imprimis Group CEO

Her message is simple but powerful – never ever give up.  She didn’t – having tried and failed 4 previous times. Diana is such an inspiration because she puts meaning to the words we hear over and over – “get out of your comfort zone.”

Now Diana has a new “Xtreme Dream” as she calls it.  It’s “Walk Across America” and she is planning to do just that in the summer of 2016 along with 1 million people.  Her goal: Make the U.S. a nation of walkers so we can decrease the number of diabetic and obese children and adults. I’m all for it and hope to be able to take part in at least some of this historic adventure.  You can read more about her and see her videos at www.diananyad.com.

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