Starting a day earlier than planned, Diana Nyad, 62, began her fourth attempt yesterday afternoon to swim from Havana, Cuba to Key West Florida, a distance of 103 miles across open ocean.  Nyad swam 21.7 statute miles in her first 18 hours. The total swim is expected to take 60 hours.

Nyad progressing in historic swim attempt: ‘No stopping her now’

In her 60s, she says, she still feels “vital (and) powerful” — and definitely “not old.” A successful swim ideally will inspire people her age and older not to let their age hinder them, Nyad said.

“When I walk up on that shore in Florida, I want millions of those AARP sisters and brothers to look at me and say, ‘I’m going to go write that novel I thought it was too late to do. I’m going to go work in Africa on that farm that those people need help at. I’m going to adopt a child. It’s not too late, I can still live my dreams,'” she said.