NewsUS woman Diana Nyad attempts to swim from Cuba to Florida : Diana Nyad said the swim from Cuba was the pursuit of an ''elusive dream''

A 61-year-old American woman is attempting to become the first person to swim from Cuba to the United States without the protection of a shark cage.

Diana Nyad set off from Havana late on Sunday. She is hoping to arrive in Key West in Florida on Wednesday.

The US and Cuba - two former Cold War adversaries - still have no formal diplomatic relations.