As well as the sharks, 29-year-old Chloe McCardel will battle exposure, swift sea currents, stinging jellyfish and extreme fatigue as she attempts the record swim from Cuba to Florida this week.
The 103-mile (166km) journey is considered the ‘holy grail’ of marathon swimming, with numerous failed attempts having been made at the treacherous crossing.

McCardel, who is a veteran swimmer of the English Channel and other endurance swims, believes she has the strength and the determination for the dangerous crossing.

“At the moment it’s the most high-profile marathon long-distance swim, and swimmers really want to come here and be the first,” she said in Havana, Cuba.

“It’s very important; it’s like winning a gold medal.”

http://youtu.be/XG6ZCyoggF4

Australian athlete Chloe McCardel explains why she is going to attempt to become the first person in history to swim from Havana in Cuba to Florida’s Key West without a shark cage.

The 29-year-old will battle strong currents, stinging jellyfish, sharks and her own physical limits when she attempts the swim this week.

“I will not wear a wetsuit. I will not use a shark cage,” she said.

“I will not hold on to anything. I will not get on the boat at any time.”

She hopes to begin the challenge, which she has described as “the hardest swim in the world today,” at some point on Wednesday, weather permitting.

http://youtu.be/-nYNXWyAx7w

In a world first, Australian Chloe McCardel aims to swim from Cuba to Florida without the aid of a shark cage. She chats to Sunrise about the attempt.