US endurance swimmer Diana Nyad has completed a 48-hour, non-stop swim in New York to raise more than $US105,000 ($A111,400) for victims of Hurricane Sandy.
The 64-year-old, who in September became the first person to swim from Cuba to Florida without a shark cage, spent two days doing laps in a specially built outdoor pool.
"I am glad it is over," she said after getting out of the water. "I am tired, I am really whipped."
Despite visits from local celebrities and other people designed to keep her spirits up, Nyad said she was surprised by the difficulty of the challenge.
"I am shocked, because I thought compared to these long ultra swims in the ocean, this would be easy," she said.
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"You should have seen me this morning at two-three in the morning. I couldn't think. I was sick over my stomach, I was worried I wouldn't be able to finish this thing."
The 36-meter, two-lane pool was set up in Herald Square, one of the busiest in Manhattan.
The water temperature was set initially at 29 Celsius but raised to overcome the increasing autumnal chill.
"I was constantly chilly," Nyad said.
There was a light drizzle and cool winds in Manhattan as she completed her swim.
