From One Athlete to Another
MPR Broadcast Journalist Series—Diana Nyad interviews Greg LeMond
June 10, 2002

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Diana Nyad interviewed three-time Tour de France winner Greg LeMond for MPR's Broadcast Journalist Series at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota. © Minnesota Public Radio, photos by Maggie Skinner

Team sports have a celebrated status in American life. Millions of Americans participate in team sports and millions more watch them on TV. But some of the world's greatest athletes are competing all on their own—in sporting events that don't have mass appeal in their own country.

Diana Nyad was considered the greatest long-distance swimmer in the world. And Greg LeMond is a three-time winner of the ultimate endurance event in the world—the Tour de France. Both athletes had a dream to be champions, and both trained for endurance sports that most people would never dream about.

In 1979 Diana Nyad made the longest swim in history—102 miles in the ocean from Bimini to Florida. She retired from competitive swimming the day she came ashore in Florida—and was hired the next day by ABC's Wide World of Sports to begin her 22-year career in the media. Now public radio listeners around the country know her as the host of The Savvy Traveler. Diana Nyad says elite athletes do a lot of traveling, and sports and travel have taught her valuable lessons about life—that all human beings basically want the same things and do live the same lives. They want to live, love, dream, and accomplish.

Nyad was at Macalester College in St. Paul on June 10, 2002, to participate in MPR's Broadcast Journalist Series. Nyad tells her own story, and she interviews cycling champion Greg LeMond, the first American to win the Tour de France. LeMond now lives part time in the Twin Cities.

About Greg LeMond
In 1986, Greg LeMond became the first American to win the Tour de France, the largest single annual sporting event in the world. The historic victory catapulted LeMond into the media spotlight.

On April 20, 1987, a hunting accident almost cost him his life, when his brother-in-law accidentally shot him. Over 40 shotgun pellets were lodged in his back, legs, small intestine, liver, diaphragm, and heart lining. His right lung collapsed, and he lost three-quarters of his blood. Surgeons managed to save his life but were forced to leave over 30 pellets in his body.

LeMond mounted a comeback after the accident, and he competed in the 1989 Tour de France, which he won by a scant eight seconds, the narrowest margin of victory ever in the Tour de France. LeMond's career resurrection was capped a month later by victory in the 1989 World Championships. And after he won the Tour de France a third time in 1990, he retired from competitive cycling.

For more about Greg LeMond, visit his official site

About Diana Nyad
An intriguing and accomplished person, Diana Nyad is a world-class athlete, riveting speaker, inspired writer, and probing journalist. Diana's warm, extroverted personality and spontaneous interviewing style make her a perfect addition to The Savvy Traveler. From 1969 to 1979, Diana was the greatest long-distance swimmer in the world. She was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in 1986.

In the 1980s, Diana embarked upon an illustrious career in television, radio, and print. She has served as the senior correspondent for Fox Sports News, hosted her own show on CNBC, and announced numerous premier sporting events for ABC Sports. In addition, Diana writes a weekly column for National Public Radio. Diana has written several books, and often contributes pieces to The New York Times, Self Magazine, and other publications. She is currently writing a series of children's books for inner-city libraries on athletes who overcame tough childhoods.

Diana graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Lake Forest College, and speaks four languages fluently.