PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. – A 21-year-old Florida man could make history as the first person with Down Syndrome to compete in a grueling Ironman Florida triathlon this weekend, which includes a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and 26.2-mile run in a single day.
Chris Nikic signed up for a new triathlon program with the Special Olympics Florida in 2018.
Nikik eagerly wrote “Chris world champ.”His father Nik Nikic said that led to a talk about doing triathlons and, eventually, an Ironman.
But he persevered, swimming in the family pool as a child and at 16 competed in a spring triathlon.
The Special Olympics connected him with veteran Ironman competitor Dan Grieb who helped coach him along the way.