Diana Nyad Ends Swim From Cuba to Florida After Two Man-of-War Stings

Sept. 25, 2011 — -- Diana Nyad ended her swim from Cuba to Florida this morning after more than 40 hours and 67 nautical miles of swimming, and two Portuguese Man-of-War stings.

The 62-year-old endurance swimmer from Los Angeles began the 60-hour journey for the second time Friday night, after failing to reach her goal in August.

"The medical team said I should not go another two nights in the water and risk additional likely Man-of-War stings which could have a long term cumulative effect on my body. But for each of us, isn't life about determining your own finish line? This journey has always been about reaching your own other shore no matter what it is, and that dream continues," Nyad called out to her flotilla of four escort boats from the water, according to her website.

Nyad's assistants had been updating the public of the swimmer's progress on her twitter account and website.

"Diana was stung along both arms the side of her body and her face," chief handler Bonnie Stoll said in a message posted on her Twitter account on Saturday. "At 9:40 Diana is still aboard Voyager and being treated by two physicians. At this moment it appears that Diana wishes to continue."

After changing suits and rehydrating, Nyad continued her journey.

Steve Munatones, the independent observer for the International Swim Federation who accompanied the expedition, noted that Portuguese Man-of-War stings have doomed many marathon swimmers, according to Nyad's website.

Before beginning the swim, Nyad said, "I'm prepared and even saying that though, how many times do you get to do something of this big an adventure? You know, how many times do you get to feel this alive? This awake and alive?"

An asthma attack ended her attempt last month after 29 hours in the water. She was 15 miles off-course due to strong currents, according to Tweets on her page at the time.

Nyad hoped to break her own world record for open-water swimming without a shark cage.

If she had completed the swim, she would have broken her 1979 record, when she swam 102.5 miles from the Bahamas to Florida.

ABC News' Enjoli Francis, Eric Noll, ABC News Radio and The Associated Press contributed to this story.