'Never, ever give up': Diana Nyad completes first Historic Cuba-to-Florida swim

Diana Nyad became the first person to swim from Cuba to Florida without a protective cage on Monday, September 2, reaching a Key West beach nearly 53 hours after jumping into the ocean in Havana for her fifth try in 35 years. The 64-year-old endurance swimmer had a 35-person team to help clear her path of jellyfish and watch for shark.

That's the mantra Diana Nyad said she had this year. And that's exactly what she did.

On Monday, Nyad became the first person to swim from Cuba to Florida without a protective cage, willing her way to a Key West beach just before 2 p.m. ET, nearly 53 hours after jumping into the ocean in Havana for her fifth try in 35 years.

Shortly after conquering the Straits of Florida, the 64-year-old endurance swimmer sat down with CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

"It's all authentic. It's a great story. You have a dream 35 years ago -- doesn't come to fruition, but you move on with life. But it's somewhere back there. Then you turn 60, and your mom just dies, and you're looking for something. And the dream comes waking out of your imagination," Nyad said.

The swim wasn't easy.

"With all the experience I have, especially in this ocean, I never knew I would suffer the way I did," she said. "For 49 hours the wind just blew like heck, and it was rough."

At one point, she was vomiting because she had so much salt water in her system and was shivering. She sang lullabies to help her relax.

"It was really rough that first day, Saturday, after the start and I just said: 'Forget about the surface up. Get your hands in somehow, and with your left hand, say, push Cuba back, and push Florida towards you,'" Nyad said.

Through it all, she held her mantra close: "You don't like it. It's not doing well. Find a way."