โOne step closer to his dream:โ Maitland Ironman with Down syndrome prepares for next competition
MAITLAND, Fla. โ Last year, an Orange County man with Down syndrome made headlines after becoming the first person with his condition to become an Ironman. See, a lot of people hear Chrisโ story and they think, โWow that boy accomplished his dream of becoming an Ironmanโ but the reality is thatโs not his dream. โEvery mile he runs, every lap he swims, every time he gets on that bicycle, heโs one step closer to his dream.โA dream that Nikic said includes finding love. โMy dream is to have my own house to have a car, to marry a woman and to have unconditional love,โ Nikic said. They have to be willing to do it with a smile.โA GoFundMe for Nikic can be found here.
Florida man with Down Syndrome competes in Ironman triathlon
PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. โ 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 โChris world champ.โHis 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.