Chris Nikic Becomes the First Person with Down Syndrome to Complete Ironman

Published November 17, 2020

On November 7, 2020, Chris Nikic, a 21-year-old from Maitland, Florida, completed the Ironman triathlon. In doing so, he became the first individual with Down Syndrome to enter the Ironman competition. He finished the race in 16 hours 46 minutes and 9 seconds and was recognized with a Guinness World Record. A cursory Google search will provide numerous headlines celebrating the remarkable achievement of Nikic, and the plaudits he earned for finishing an Ironman are more than deserved.

But the story of Chris Nikic’s journey to become an Ironman isn’t simply a story of an individual overcoming obstacles to achieve a monumental goal. It is, rather, the story of a man who, from birth, has been overcoming obstacles to achieve goals that many people take for granted. As Chris points out on his website, he did not begin to walk until the age of three, and then only with a walker. And according to an article by Runner's World, Chris couldn’t eat solid food until the age of five.

However, Chris has chosen to pursue goals that many people could never dream of accomplishing, and thanks to the support of his family and support network, has accomplished those goals. According to Chris on his website, "I don't do excuses and my coaches won't take them." So, rather than be defined by the struggles that he faces, Chris has chosen to use his challenges as a way to improve himself, in order to live exactly the life that he desires to live.

While the completion of the Ironman competition is a remarkable feat, it was not the end goal for Chris. As a public speaker, Chris wants to use his abilities to inspire others to pursue their passions, and to demonstrate that, "a delay is just a delay, it is not permanent. It just means we have to work harder and that's OK." Chris and his father created the 1% Better Challenge as a plan to motivate Chris as he pursued the goal of completing the Ironman. "It’s easy to be successful because I only need to get one percent better each day," Chris told Runner's World.

Physical feats like completing the Ironman Triathlon are certainly inspiring, particularly when the individual has to overcome extra challenges due to a disability, but what makes Chris Nikic inspiring isn’t his physical ability. Instead, what makes Chris inspiring is that rather than resting on his accomplishments thus far, he is determined to be better every single day. In a post on Instagram, Chris said, "IRONMAN. Goal set and achieved. Time to set a new and BIGGER Goal for 2021. Whatever it is the strategy is the same. 1% Better every day."

Chris Nikic sees himself as an advocate and an example for others with Down Syndrome. His father, Nik, speaking to Runner’s World, said, "look, your kids are going to be okay, but you need to invest in them while they’re young and help them to be the best that they can be." And in his interview with CNN regarding the Ironman, Chris said, "I achieved my goal and now I want to help others like me."

The story of Chris Nikic’s journey to compete in, and complete, the Ironman Competition mirrors much of his life—not allowing obstacles to get in the way of achieving whatever he sets his mind to. But his story is also a poignant reminder of the value of having a loving family and a strong support network. Chris is not alone in having these things. However, he is an encouragement to families everywhere that with dedication and hard work, an individual can lead a rich, full life, regardless of ability or disability. As Chris says on his website, “Yes, I know I can't compete with an elite athlete BUT through hard work, I can get strong enough to complete an Ironman. We must changing our thinking from I can't to I can BUT I must work harder.”

Chris is an inspiration, not simply because he is an Ironman, but because he is using his life to set an example to encourage others to follow their dreams. Down Syndrome has posed challenges for Chris to overcome, but it has also provided him with life lessons that he is using to inspire other individuals as they face challenges in their lives. Congratulations Chris, on a job well done!

 

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