Published July 6, 2011 05:01PM

CNN correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta is currently training with CNN Fit Nation for the Nautica New York City Triathlon. He spoke with Diana Nyad, a 61-year-old swimmer who is attempting to swim from Cuba to Florida this summer. She offered the following open-water swim advice that Dr. Gupta shared with his CNN Fit Nation 6-Pack team—a group of six newbies training for their first triathlon.
1. If you end up in a pack of swimmers and people are pushing you, just side stroke your way out of the pack.
2. Float on your back if you get tired or overwhelmed.
3. Imagine a concrete block in front of you and you are pushing it off of you. If you get used to swimming in that form, it will help to alleviate that anxiety.