Year after year, we’re captivated by our beloved professional athletes: We cheer them on when they win, and feel their pain when they lose. When you think of someone at the “top of their game,” you may conjure images of someone in their 20s or 30s. But Diana Nyad set her record at age 64. She’s the first person to complete the 110-mile swim from Cuba to Florida without the protection of a shark cage. (And she didn’t even start training for the adventure until she was in her 60s.) She tells us of her encounters with deadly box jellyfish, what it’s like to swim for 60 hours straight with only your thoughts to keep you company, and why although marathon swimming is a solitary sport, your team is the most important part of completing the race.

More money news when you need it! Get the latest and greatest updates on all things investing, budgeting, and making money. Subscribe to the HerMoney newsletter at Hermoney.com/subscribe!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices