Chris Nikic

[Airehead]

The man to watch today. He is the first person with Down Syndrome to start an Ironman. He will also be the first to finish.  Paraphrasing his own words, his whole life has been people telling him what he cannot do.  He has slowly and surely proved them wrong including doctors and teachers. He has out performed his coaches expectations. 
 

I will be happy when the bike portion is over because people with Down frequently have ear concerns that cause balance issues. 

His willingness to keep trying even when faced with adversity is a lesson for all people. 
 

https://www.today.com/health/chris-nikic-first-man-down-syndrome-attempt-ironman-race-t197938

[Airehead]

Swim complete and out of T1

[Longjohn ★]

He needs this bike.

[Airehead]

Through 6.6 miles on bike 16.91 pace. 

[Longjohn ★]

 

[Airehead]

@Longjohn, thank you I had not seen this. 
 

[Longjohn ★]

I miss my special needs kids. I haven’t seen them for a year except on Facebook.

[Airehead]

80 miles on the bike is done. 

[Airehead]

He is off the bike and in T2. 
swim 1:55:39

bike 7:45:07 

just a marathon left which seems like a ridiculous thing to say— just a marathon. 

[Square Wheels]

2 hours ago, Airehead said:

He is off the bike and in T2. 
swim 1:55:39

bike 7:45:07 

just a marathon left which seems like a ridiculous thing to say— just a marathon. 

He cut it close on the cut off times for the swim and ride.  Hope he's a "fast" runner.  Only has just over 7 hours.

[Airehead]

5 minutes ago, Square Wheels said:

He cut it close on the cut off times for the swim and ride.  Hope he's a "fast" runner.  Only has just over 7 hours.

Agreed. Run is his strongest sport. He has accomplished so much for himself and for others. I really hope he falls asleep tonight as an Ironman. 

[Square Wheels]

9 minutes ago, Airehead said:

Agreed. Run is his strongest sport. He has accomplished so much for himself and for others. I really hope he falls asleep tonight as an Ironman. 

Hopefully he'll be happy as a finisher even if he misses the cutoff.  I know I could not finish that in 17 hours.  Truly amazing.

[Longjohn ★]

He slowed down quite a bit. Skinned his knee and got bit by ants.

[Airehead]

I think 16 miles with four hours to do it. The athletes with disabilities start an hour early and have to be done by 11. 

[Square Wheels]

4 minutes ago, Airehead said:

I think 16 miles with four hours to do it. The athletes with disabilities start an hour early and have to be done by 11. 

Do they get extra time?

[Longjohn ★]

16 minutes ago, Airehead said:

I think 16 miles with four hours to do it. The athletes with disabilities start an hour early and have to be done by 11. 

Cool, it will be close but he should make it.

[Airehead]

18 minutes ago, Square Wheels said:

Do they get extra time?

No, they get the same 17 hours. I believe they start earlier for those who need assistance getting from beach to t1. Wheelchairs or whatever. 

[Airehead]

10 miles left. It is going to be durn close to cutoff. 

[Airehead]

Chris Nikic is an Ironman. 16:49:09

[Longjohn ★]

YAY 

[Longjohn ★]

That reminded me of watching Parr8 crossing the finish line.

[maddmaxx ★]

This is a great story.  I believe his story was on television sometime within the last week or so, possibly on the Today Show but I don't remember where I saw it.  That spot was mostly about his training and the support of his family.

Wonderful ending.

[Square Wheels]

Yay, hopefully he'll get to do the daily TV shows.

[BR46]

I was following him on my Facebook news feed. ..he is a amazing athlete.

 

[Prophet Zacharia]

8 hours ago, Longjohn said:

That reminded me of watching Parr8 crossing the finish line.

I always thought of @Parr8hed as having special needs for an Ironman, including bacon and bourbon.

[Razors Edge ★]

9 hours ago, Airehead said:

Chris Nikic is an Ironman. 16:49:09

Awesome story.  Quite happy for him!

[petitepedal ★]

Stayed up to watch him finish...and though I would catch SNL..but went to bed..

[Razors Edge ★]

A bit of coverage over at Triathlete's site - a brief post race interview and a story leading up to the race.

A lot of people needed a really good story this year, and 21-year-old Chris Nikic delivered just that on Saturday, when he became the first person with Down syndrome to finish an Ironman. Racing alongside his coach and guide, Dan Grieb (a 16-time Ironman finisher), Nikic overcame high surf, a crash on the bike, and muggy conditions on the run to finish with just 14 minutes left to spare before the 17-hour cutoff.

“The run was really awesome because of all the people cheering for me,” Nikic said. “And when I got to the end, I just started running faster because of all the people cheering. I was so excited to hear them say, ‘You are an Ironman.’”

According to Grieb, Nikic had a spill on the bike while going downhill at about 19 mph. His knees were pretty scuffed up, but the thought of not getting back on the bike never crossed his mind.

“We engage in a lot of banter on the course to keep him going,” Grieb said. “At one point he said the S-word, and that turned into a four-hour conversation. That back and forth banter is how we get through the tough spots, like riding up a hill or a crash.”

Like most first-time Ironman finishers, Nikic is left with some blisters on his ankles and feet, but said he otherwise felt pretty good when he woke up the following morning. Don’t expect him to be the one-and-done Ironman type, either. He already has his sights set on the Ironman World Championship next October, as well as continuing his work as a public speaker. It’s a story people are clearly eager to follow. Over the course of the weekend, 30,000 people tuned in live to watch Ironman’s Facebook coverage of his finish—and Nikic went from 20,000 to 74,000 followers on Instagram. You can continue to follow Nikic’s journey at @chrisnikic.