life Nyad has said a factor in her determination while swimming was her anger about, and her desire to overcome sexual abuse she experienced as a child. Nyad has spoken publicly about this issue. Most recently, she candidly described this painful part of her life and her struggle to overcome the pain in an article in The New York Times. Nyad is openly lesbian and is an atheist. Charitable activities From October 8–10, 2013, Nyad participated in "Swim for Relief" by doing a 48-hour continuous swim in New York City's Herald Square in a specially constructed, 120-foot long, two lane pool. It raised $105,001.00 for AmeriCares to benefit the victims of Hurricane Sandy. References External links Official bio on American Public Media Nyad's December 2013 TED Talk "Never, ever give up" after having completed the Cuba-to-Florida swim in September "An Ill Wind That Blew No Good"—Sports Illustrated, August 28, 1978 1978 Nyad interview with John Calloway after her first Cuba-Florida attempt, Chicago Tonight, full video 1949 births 20th-century American non-fiction writers 20th-century American women writers 21st-century American non-fiction writers 21st-century American women writers American atheists American female swimmers American long-distance swimmers American motivational speakers Women motivational speakers American Public Media American female squash players American women journalists Emory University alumni Lake Forest College alumni Lesbian sportswomen American lesbian writers American LGBT journalists LGBT people from New York (state) American LGBT sportspeople LGBT swimmers Living people NFL Europe broadcasters Sportspeople from New York City Sportswriters from New York (state) Writers from New York City LGBT squash players Manhattan Island swimmers Olympic Games broadcasters 21st-century LGBT people