Diana Nyad

25 million people worldwide rooted for Diana as she approached the Florida shore at long last, achieving her 35-year-old dream of becoming the first person to swim from Cuba to Florida. This was her fifth attempt to swim the shark-infested 110.86-mile distance, but Diana has never quit. As she stood on the beach in Key West after completing her mammoth swim, her message to the wildly cheering crowd reverberated worldwide: Never Ever Give Up. Her amazing 52-hour, 54-minute, and 18-second swim showed the world what persistence and a bold spirit can manifest. A tsunami of inspiration flooded toward Diana, with personal messages pouring in from President Obama and Hillary Clinton and millions of people who felt their lives uplifted by Diana's "Find a Way" philosophy. Daring to reach for the stars, Diana has motivated the world to live fearlessly and chase one's dreams with unwavering commitment. If you are looking for a double shot of motivation and want to find new levels of resilience, it's time to goggle up and jump right in with Diana.