Diana Nyad says that she swam 110 miles from Cuba to Florida. Sarah Thomas asserts that she swam 104 miles in Lake Champlain.
Before you attempt to join the 100-mile club, use this handy chart to compare the way these two very different athletes went about bolstering their claims. [Update, 12/31/17: Added “including an accurate list of all crew members” to AFTER THE SWIM section.]
| S.T. | D.N | |
| BEFORE THE SWIM | ||
| Chose a reputable organization to oversee the swim. | √ | X |
| Agreed on rules and put them in writing. | √ | X |
| Had a history of recent swims that indicated an ability to complete 100+ miles. | √ | X |
| DURING THE SWIM | ||
| Swam unassisted. ¹ | √ | X |
| Used experienced independent observers. | √ | X |
| Kept regular and accurate logs. ² | √ | X |
| Videoed swim. ³ | 21+ hrs. | < 5 min. |
| Photographed swim. | 4K+ images | ??? |
| Made GPS data readily available. | √ | X |
| AFTER THE SWIM | ||
| Made all swim data easily accessible to all, including an accurate list of all crew members. | √ (here) | X |
| Did not make confusing and misleading statements about the swim. | √ | X |
| Did not ask and expect the media and the public to believe without question pretty much everything she said.4 | √ | X |
Who do you believe? 5
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NOTES:
- Nyad initially claimed that she swam unassisted and untouched. Both assertions proved false.
- Thomas’s observers made bi-hourly log entries throughout her swim. Nyad has claimed that her observers made entries “every minute,” but her logs have gaps of up to 6 hours.
- The only available video of Nyad’s swim comes from the beginning and the end. The rest has vanished.
- Ms. Thomas hasn’t gotten a lot of media coverage, Sarah Thomas: the woman who swam a century notwithstanding.
- I know it’s supposed to be “whom,” but that just sounds silly.