Chris Nikic

Chris Nikic is an American amateur triathlete. In 2020, at age 21, he became the first person with Downs syndrome to finish an Ironman triathlon.[1][2]

Nikic
Personal information
NationalityAmerican
Sport
SportTriathlon

Completion of Ironman Triathlon

Nikic completed the Ironman Florida triathlon in 16 hours 46 minutes 9 seconds, swimming 2.4 miles, cycling 112 miles, and then running a (26.2-mile) marathon. This earned him recognition from Guinness World Records.[1][3][4][5] His time was 14 minutes faster than the cut-off time for qualification.

"We don't make any accommodations for anyone around the core elements of racing." --Andrew Messick, CEO of Ironman Group.

Training

Nikic is also training for the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games.[6][7] Nikic trained with Dan Grieb, who has completed 16 Ironman races, for four to eight hours each day for around one year. He began exercising in 2017 with a single pushup and aimed to improve his performance 1% each day.[2][8][9]

''I have to work hard and give my best every day. If I do an Ironman and become a pro-speaker I will have a chance to get my dream.'' Chris Nikic

Early life

Nikic grew up in Florida. He had open-heart surgery at five months old, and was not able to walk well until four years old or eat solid food until age five.[4][9]

References
  1. "Nikic becomes first person with Down's syndrome to finish Ironman". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
  2. West, Jenna. "Chris Nikic Is First Person With Down Syndrome to Complete Ironman". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
  3. "Chris Nikic finishes ironman". news.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
  4. McCoy, Jenny (2020-10-08). "Chris Nikic Has Become the First Ironman Finisher With Down Syndrome". Runner's World. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
  5. "Florida athlete strives to be the first person with down syndrome to complete an ironman". WFTS. 2020-10-29. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  6. Lane, Barnaby. "A 21-year-old man made history as the first ever athlete with Down syndrome to complete an Ironman triathlon". Insider. Retrieved 2020-11-11.
  7. Kelsie Smith. "A 21-year-old man has made history as the first person with Down syndrome to complete an Ironman triathlon". CNN. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  8. KABC (November 9, 2020). "Florida man is 1st person with Down syndrome to finish Ironman triathlon". ABC7 San Francisco. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  9. "Chris Nikic is About to Make Ironman History". SI.com. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
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