Chris Nikic
{{Short description|American triathlete}}
{{use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{use American English|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name = Chris Nikic
| image =
| imagesize =
| caption =
| nationality = American
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|10|7
}}
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height =
| weight =
| website =
| country =
| sport = Triathlon
| event =
| collegeteam =
| club =
| team =
| turnedpro =
| coach =
| retired =
| coaching =
| worlds =
| regionals =
| nationals =
| olympics =
| paralympics =
| highestranking =
| pb =
| show-medals =
| medaltemplates =
}}
Chris Nikic (born October 6, 1999) is an American amateur triathlete. In 2020, at age 21, he became the first person with Down syndrome to finish an Ironman triathlon.{{Cite news|title=Nikic becomes first person with Down's syndrome to finish Ironman|language=en-GB|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/triathlon/54869998|access-date=2020-11-09}}{{Cite magazine|last=West|first=Jenna|title=Chris Nikic Is First Person With Down Syndrome to Complete Ironman|url=https://www.si.com/more-sports/2020/11/09/chris-nikic-completes-ironman-first-person-down-syndrome|access-date=2020-11-09|magazine=Sports Illustrated|language=en-us}} For this accomplishment, Nikic was awarded the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance as part of the 2021 ESPY Awards. Additionally, he won the ESPY for Best Athlete with a Disability in Men's Sports.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/espys/story/_/page/voting-winners/2021-espys-award-winners |title=2021 ESPY Award Winners |website=ESPN.com |date=July 10, 2021 |accessdate=July 12, 2021}}
Ironman Triathlon
= Training =
Nikic trained with Dan Grieb, who has completed 16 Ironman races, for four to eight hours each day for around one year. He began exercising in 2017 with a single pushup and aimed to improve his performance 1% each day.{{Cite web|last=KABC|title=Florida man is 1st person with Down syndrome to finish Ironman triathlon|url=https://abc7news.com/7804123/|date=November 9, 2020|access-date=November 13, 2020|website=ABC7 San Francisco|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Chris Nikic is About to Make Ironman History|url=https://www.si.com/enfuego/news/chris-nikic-is-about-to-make-ironman-history|access-date=November 9, 2020|website=SI.com|date=5 November 2020 |language=en}}{{blockquote|
Nikic is also training for the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games.{{Cite web|last=Lane|first=Barnaby|title=A 21-year-old man made history as the first ever athlete with Down syndrome to complete an Ironman triathlon|url=https://www.insider.com/chris-nikic-21-year-old-down-syndrome-makes-history-ironman-2020-11|access-date=2020-11-11|website=Insider}}{{Cite web|author=Kelsie Smith|title=A 21-year-old man has made history as the first person with Down syndrome to complete an Ironman triathlon|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/09/health/first-person-with-down-syndrome-completes-ironman-scn-trnd/index.html|access-date=November 11, 2020|website=CNN|date=10 November 2020 }}
= 2020 Ironman Florida =
Nikic completed the Ironman Florida triathlon in 16 hours 46 minutes 9 seconds, swimming {{convert|2.4|mi|km|2|adj=on}}, cycling {{convert|112|mi|km|2|adj=on}}, and then running a marathon {{convert|26.22|mi|km|2|adj=on}}. This earned him recognition from Guinness World Records.{{Cite web|title=Chris Nikic finishes ironman|url=https://news.yahoo.com/chris-nikic-finishes-ironman-052109442.html|access-date=2020-11-09|website=news.yahoo.com|date=9 November 2020 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=McCoy|first=Jenny|date=2020-10-08|title=Chris Nikic Has Become the First Ironman Finisher With Down Syndrome|url=https://www.runnersworld.com/runners-stories/a34276109/chris-nikic-ironman-triathlon-down-syndrome/|access-date=2020-11-09|website=Runner's World|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=2020-10-29|title=Florida athlete strives to be the first person with down syndrome to complete an ironman|url=https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/region-pinellas/florida-athlete-strives-to-be-the-first-person-with-down-syndrome-to-complete-an-ironman|access-date=November 9, 2020|website=WFTS|language=en}} His time was 14 minutes faster than the cut-off time for qualification. {{blockquote|"We don't make any accommodations for anyone around the core elements of racing." --Andrew Messick, CEO of Ironman Group.}}
= 2022 Ironman Hawaii =
Nikic bested his Florida Ironman time two years later in the 2022 Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii, with a time of 16 hours, 31 minutes.{{cite web|title=Chris Nikic Completes 2022 IRONMAN World Championships in Kona, Hawaii|url=https://www.specialolympics.org/stories/athletes/chris-nikic-completes-2022-ironman-world-championships-in-kona-hawaii|accessdate=27 August 2023 |website=Special Olympics|date=7 October 2022 |language=en}} In announcing Nikic's record-breaking feat of being the only person with Down syndrome to complete two IRONMAN competitions, the Special Olympics announced the triathlete's designation as a Special Olympics Champion Ambassador, "for the impact he's made on the organization."
Early life
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Jimmy V Perseverance}}
{{ESPY Male Athlete with a Disability}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nikic, Chris}}
Category:American male triathletes
Category:Sportspeople from Florida
Category:Sportspeople with Down syndrome