The IRONMAN Triathlon is a 140-mile sporting event consisting of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bicycle ride, and culminating in a 26.22-mile marathon. It’s considered one of the most difficult one-day sporting events in the world, and athletes who finish within the 17-hour time limit earn the designation “IRONMAN”.
(Instagram, @chrisnikic) 
(Instagram, @chrisnikic) 
Chris Nikic and Special Olympics Partner Dan Grieb (Michael Reaves/Getty Images for Ironman)
On November 7, 2020, 21-year-old Chris Nikic became the first athlete with Down Syndrome to complete a full IRONMAN triathlon with an official time of 16 hours 46 minutes and 9 seconds. The athletic feat earned Nikic significant press, including this write-up by the Washington Post, as well as a Guinness World Record.
Although he couldn’t walk until he was four-years-old, Florida native Chris Nikic has been an athlete since his early teens—running sprints, swimming, and playing basketball in the Special Olympics. He first learned to ride a bike at 15-years-old, and five years later, he started to train, not just for a 112-mile bike race, but for a world-famous triathlon and endurance challenge: the IRONMAN.
After training for a year (and finishing a half IRONMAN in May), Nikic embarked on the grueling nearly 17-hour feat with the aid of his coach and Special Olympics partner, Daniel Grieb, who helped him navigate the choppy waters of the Gulf of Mexico and strap into his 10-speed bike. Nikic was also motivated by the support of his friends and family and by his own life philosophy – Get 1% Better Every Day.
Setting a world record and conquering the IRONMAN is only one of Nikic’s life goals. He dreams of living independently from his parents, buying his own house and car, and starting a family. Having already accomplished so much, including raising more than $53,000 to support Down Syndrome, RODS, and the Special Olympics through the IRONMAN Foundation, Nikic has proven that he has the willpower and dedication to see all of his dreams become reality.
Follow Chris Nikic on Instagram (@chrisnikic) and at his official website (ChrisNikic.com). Support his fundraising efforts through the IRONMAN Foundation or through his website.
Read More About Chris Nikic:
- Chris Nikic Wants to Be the First Ironman Finisher With Down Syndrome (Runner’s World)
- Special Olympian Chris Nikic Trains to Be First Person with Down Syndrome to Complete Ironman (USA Today)
- Trailblazing Triathlete Isn’t Letting Down Syndrome Prevent Him From Becoming an Ironman (Washington Post)
- Chris Nikic, You Are an Ironman. And Your Journey Is Remarkable. (New York Times)
- Motivational Speech 1% Better—Chris Nikic (Special Olympics, video)