On Nov. 7, 2020, Chris Nikic did something
incredible. He became the first
person with Down syndrome to complete one of
the most gruelling athletic
competitions in the world–the Ironman triathlon.
What is the Ironman?
In the Ironman triathlon, athletes must swim 2.4
miles (3.8 km) and then
bike 112 miles (180 km) and finally run a 26.2 mile
(42 km) marathon. Each of those is incredibly
challenging, testing athletes’ physical and
emotional strength. But Ironman competitors (who
can be of any gender) have to do all three in one
day.
Nikic started the triathlon just before 6 a.m. on
Nov. 7, entering the water
in Panama City, Florida in the United States, for his
swim. During the biking section his bike crashed and he skinned his knee. And during a
water break, he was bitten by fire ants. But he never gave up. He finished the triathlon in 16
hours, 46 minutes and 9 seconds–with just 14 minutes to spare before the cut-off time.
The 1% better each day principle
For two years, Nikic trained for the event, using a strategy he developed
with his father Nik which they call the “1% better each day principle.”
Every day, Nikic and his father would strive to become one per cent better. That was their
way of improving, while avoiding some of the pain of pushing the body too hard (which is
when some people get discouraged and may stop training). Nikic’s father said it works well
for “a young man with Down syndrome as well as someone in my age group (45).”
On his website, Nikic outlines six strategies that helped him achieve his
goal of completing the Ironman triathlon: Health (body), health (mind), friends (soul), focus
on the positive, help someone else and pass it on.
Nikic originally started exercising in order to recover from ear surgery and to get in shape.
Now he has other goals: to live independently and one day have a big house and a nice car
and to get married.
Training for the Ironman triathlon has helped make his dreams achievable. In fact, he
recently bought a white Chevy and has been offered speaking gigs that may enable him save
up enough money to buy a house.
His next goals are to learn how to drive and he has been invited to compete in the US Special
Olympics in 2022.
What is Down syndrome?
On the Canadian Down Syndrome Society website, Jan, who has Down syndrome, explains
that it is something people are born with. “It happens naturally when an extra copy of
chromosome number 21 is made before the baby is born. It could happen to anyone, in any
country.”