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C.hris Nikic reached out into the dark night sky of Panama City Beach and enjoyed the four magic words: “You are an Ironman”. At the finish line, after swimming 3.86 kilometers, cycling 180.2 kilometers and running 42.2 Hug coach and guide Dan Grieb. After nearly 17 hours, the 21-year-old had made his dream come true in Florida and, according to organizers, was the first athlete with Down syndrome to do an Ironman.
“For Chris, the race was not just the finish line and the celebration of the winners,” said Father Nik Nikic. “It was an example to show other children and families who have to overcome similar obstacles that no dream is too big or no goal is too high.” At the finish line, she proudly and joyfully embraced her son for what seemed like an eternity.
Chris Nikic took 16:46:09 hours. He covered the almost four kilometers on the Gulf of Mexico in just under 1:55 hours, for the bike course Chris Nikic took about 8:12 hours. But he didn’t ride with an aerodynamic chronometer handlebar and did without automatic pedals, which facilitate the transmission of power. A fall that included a slightly bleeding right knee and ant bites – he continued.
He completed the marathon in 6:18:48 hours – repeatedly acclaimed by enthusiastic people at the edge of the track. Sometimes they came from restaurants to support the young man with his “1% Better” t-shirt, true to his training motto “Get one percent better every day”.
Over 11,000 comments, mostly filled with admiration, when the finish was aired on Facebook, and the American Triathlon Association bowed to Instagram: “History made. Again, the triathlon reminds us that anything is possible. “World-class athlete Cameron Wurf (37 / Australia), fifth at the 2019 Hawaii World Cup, wrote:” I have goosebumps, so incredibly stimulating. “
Chris Nikic was honored for his performance with an entry in the Guinness Book of Records. In addition, together with the Ironman Foundation, he raised the equivalent of almost 34,000 euros. It wasn’t until the age of four that Chris Nikic could walk without a walker, his muscle strength and muscle tension were not as expressed as in people without Down syndrome. Four years ago he had to undergo four ear operations. If he can handle an Ironman, he can handle the rest of his life, according to the belief of the 21-year-old from Maitland.
In the first half of the year, after canceling a race over half the Ironman distance, he had completed an impromptu 1.9km swim, 90km cycling and 21.1km running race and then went on to prepare for his big day. “Giving up is not an option for Chris,” said his coach before the game and then said, “I’m no longer surprised at what Chris can do. He’s a person with goals and dreams like everyone else.”
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