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Lake Forest College Cheers Alum Diana Nyad

SWIMMING-CUBA-US-NYAD
iana Nyad jumps into the water to try swimming in a three-day non-stop journey from Havana to Florida at the Ernest Hemingway Nautical Club, in Havana on August 31, 2013. (Credit: YAMIL LAGE/AFP/Getty Images)

(CBS) -- This is a happy day at Lake Forest College, because Diana Nyad is a 1973 graduate.

Lake Forest College Cheers Alum Diana Nyad

Among those watching this latest - successful - effort to swim from Cuba to Florida was Jackie Slaats, the director of athletics at Lake Forest College.

"Yes, I was, actually. I think a few people in the office have been watching her. And I know I've probably gotten at least 25 alum notes from people I know have been watching.

"It's exciting. I'm really happy for her."

Slaats says the alums she's heard from knew Diana Nyad would finally succeed.

"They weren't surprised by how driven she was as a student athlete - and what she was trying to accomplish post-Lake Forest."

Diana Nyad was Phil Beta Kappa at Lake Forest College.

Her bio says she played on the unbeaten varsity tennis team and took drama classes at the Goodman Theatre.

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