Australian woman preps for Cuba-to-Florida swim

MiamiHerald.com

www.heraldsun.com.au

KEY WEST, Fla. -- An Australian woman is getting ready to try swimming from Cuba to Florida.

Endurance swimmer Chloe McCardel has a practice swim scheduled Sunday in the waters off Key West. Her attempt at swimming across the Florida Straits from Cuba to the Keys without a shark cage is set for June.

She's the latest swimmer to try the difficult crossing.

American Diana Nyad has tried four times: once in 1978 with a shark cage, and three times in the last two years without it. After jellyfish thwarted her most recent attempt, in August, Nyad all but ruled out a fifth try.

Strong currents forced Australian Penny Palfrey to abandon her attempt last July.

One Australian has successfully finished the swim. Susie Maroney did it in 1997 with a shark cage.

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