Chris Nikichas become the first athlete with Down syndrome to complete an Ironman Triathlon. The 21-year-old from Maitland, Florida, swam 2.4-miles, biked 112-miles and ran an entire marathon, 26.2-miles over 16-hours, 46-minutes and nine-seconds and finished 14-minutes before the official cut-off time.
Nikic even earned the for his accomplishment during Ironman Florida in Panama City Beach and it was considered a “historic achievement” by the Special Olympics. He started competing in triathlons when he was only 16 and last May, he completed a half-distance triathlon, which is 70.3-miles, and he became the first person with Down syndrome to do it.
“I want to inspire others so they can be like me so one day they can do it too,” Chris says.
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