Diana Nyad Becomes First Person to Swim From Cuba to Florida Without Shark Cage or Flippers [VIDEO] 

Diana Nyad became the first person to swim from Cuba to Florida without a shark cage or flippers Monday, September 2, 2013. At age 64, Nyad proved successful on her fifth attempt across the 110-mile gap between the two countries.

"I am about to swim my last two miles in the ocean," she told her handlers as she approached Key West.

"This is a lifelong dream of mine and I'm very very glad to be with you," she added, thanking her team for the opportunity and immense help. "So let's get going so we can have a whopping party."

The long distance swimmer did say that this would be her last attempt at a goal that started 35 years ago.

Since last year's two attempts were botched by large groups of box jellyfish, some of the most deadly [their poison targets the heart and nervous system], Nyad chose to use a protective silicone mask while swimming.

Though she lucked out with favorable currents and less jellyfish, Nyad's journey was far from easy. Doctors on her team said the swimmer's tongue and lips were so swollen that it caused her to slur her words. At one point Nyad became "very cold" and refused eating, "in hopes that swimming would keep her warm."

The only person to conquer the Florida Straights was 22-year old Aussie swimmer Susie Maroney, who used a shark cage during her 1997 attempt. The hydro-dynamic cage allowed Maroney to accomplish the journey in 25 hours compared to Nyad's 48.

Nyad's past accomplishments include swimming around the Manhattan island in 1975 and from the Bahamas to Florida in 1979.