By Lt. Ken Roland, Staff, Writer for The Westside Gazette
Community Activist and Aquatic Expert
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — My previous article stated that the Diana Nyad historical marker was pending approval was in error. The recent approval of a Florida State Historical Marker honoring long-distance swimmer Diana Nyad has sparked intensified debate, particularly concerning the accuracy of the narratives presented and the marker’s placement near the historic site of the 1961 civil rights “wade-ins.”
Critics argue that the marker’s text, which portrays Nyad as a “champion pool swimmer” from Fort Lauderdale who trained off Las Olas Beach, lacks substantiation. Bruce Wigo, a historian and member of the International Society of Olympic Historians, stated, “The story of her being inspired as a child and training in Fort Lauderdale is a complete fabrication. Her own words in her 1978 autobiography, ‘Other Shores,’ contradict this narrative.”
Further scrutiny comes from the website, nyadfactcheck.com which analyzes discrepancies in Nyad’s accounts. The site highlights that Nyad’s claims of early inspiration and training in Fort Lauderdale emerged only after her 2013 Cuba-to-Florida swim, with no mention in her earlier autobiography.
Community members express concern over the marker’s proximity to the site of the 1961 wade-ins, a pivotal event in the fight against segregation. Ocean lifeguard Roland White Jr. remarked, “Trying to ride the coat tail of the Black struggle to achieve the monumental change and injustice is a slap in the face of all people of color. It is not a testament of DEI but is offensive to me.”
Dr. Miriam Lisa Baxter, PhD, a social psychologist, emphasized the need for community involvement in such decisions: “The Wade-In work is too important and too significant of a milestone to be shared by her widely disputed claim to have trained in that exact spot. This should have been talked about in a town hall meeting of the District 3 community.
As the city moves forward with the marker’s installation, these concerns underscore the importance of accurate historical representation and community engagement in commemorating significant events and individuals.
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