May 24, 2021
On November 8, 2020, Chris Nikic became the first man with Down syndrome to complete an Ironman Triathlon. An Ironman consists of a 2.4-mile open-water swim, a 112-mile bike ride, and a 26.2-mile run a full marathon. It’s an endurance test that less than 0.003 percent of able-bodied Americans can complete.
When asked why Chris became interested in the triathlon, his parents responded, “Ever since Chris was born, the doctors have told us that he’d never walk, that he’d never make friends, that he’d be confined to bed all day, and that his life would be miserable. Chris showed them that those were lies.”