Woman completes Maui Nui challenge after more than 25 hours of swimming

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A swimmer achieved a monumental accomplishment, completing one of the most challenging swims in the state.

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Terri Dietz became one of only three people known to have completed the Maui Nui challenge.

The grueling challenge required her to swim from Lanai to Maui, Maui to Molokai, and Molokai to Lanai.

Dietz has swam through every Hawaiian Island channel, except the Kauai Channel at this point in her career.

She was full of emotion after she finally completed her goal after more than 25 hours of swimming.

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“Just full of joy, gratitude,” Dietz said. “This could make me cry. It was a big relief, but the joy and the gratitude was just overwhelming.”

Dietz credits her crew for helping her push herself beyond her limits and making sure she was safe during her journey.

She also expressed gratitude for the conditions that made the accomplishment possible.

“Considering the weather that we’ve been having recently, we found a beautiful window,” Dietz said. “She laid down enough to give me passage for sure.”

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