Special Olympics athlete Chris Nikic has just become the world’s first person with Down syndrome to complete an Ironman triathlon. This historic win has landed him on the Guinness World Records list.
The 21-year-old athlete competed in the Ironman Florida competition in Panama City Beach on Saturday, November 7. The race included a 3.8-metre swim in the Gulf of Mexico, a 180km bicycle ride through Panama City Beach and a full 42.1km marathon run along the beachfront. Nikic finished this gruelling race just under the 17-hour cutoff with a total time of 16 hours, 46 minutes and nine seconds.
It was not an easy ride for Nikic, who suffered an attack by ants during a nutrition stop and fell off of his bike a couple of times.
“With blood dripping from his knee, he jumped right back on in a show of true sportsmanship and grit,” said the Special Olympics in a press statement.
While training for the event, Nikic and his father Nik developed the 1% better principle – get better, faster and stronger by 1% every day.
“To Chris, this race was more than just a finish line and celebration of victory,” said proud dad Nik. “IRONMAN has served as his platform to become one step closer to his goal of living a life of inclusion and leadership.”
His coach Dan added: “I’m no longer surprised by what Chris can accomplish because I recognize who Chris is; a human being who has goals and dreams just like everyone else. He wants to make the path easier for those just like him and can follow his lead.”