The world changed on Nov. 7th 2020. I’m not talking about the election. I don’t talk politics in public. I was always taught that it was rude to do so. No, I’m talking about the fact that on Nov. 7th, a young man from Florida named Chris Nikic completed the Ironman Triathlon.
You might be wondering why that matters. Well, for starters, finishing an Ironman Triathlon is a huge deal—many have entered, and many fewer have finished. There is a 17-hour clock on the event, and in order to be considered a finisher, you need to complete the Ironman in less than the 17 hours. I couldn’t finish the triathlon in that amount of time, no matter how much money you offered me. But the reason why, years from now people will be speaking about Nov. 7th , is that Chris Nikic was the VERY FIRST person with Down Syndrome to sign up for, let alone, complete an Ironman Triathlon.
There are lots of great articles out there that detail the specifics of Chris’s training program, and the challenges he faced in preparing for the Ironman. I won’t rehash them here, as this is not a piece about athleticism. What I want to write about instead is Chris’s mission—not just to become an Ironman, but to be an advocate for and inspiration to, all individuals with Down Syndrome.
As the basis of his training program, Chris and his father Nik created the 1% Better Challenge. The concept was very simple: Chris only needed to improve 1% every day. As Chris says on his website, “I decided to do a Jr. Triathlon. Then I focused on getting 1% Better every day. Then I did a Sprint triathlon in 148 minutes. Then 100 minutes. Then an Olympic in 4 hours. Then Half Ironman in 8:25. Yes, I know I can't compete with an elite athlete BUT through hard work, I can get strong enough to complete an Ironman. We must changing our thinking from I can't to I can BUT I must work harder.” And then, speaking about his disability, he said, “The biggest problem is people think a delay means we can't do it. NO, a delay is just a delay, it is not permanent. It just means we have to work harder and that's OK.”
Chris was born into the world facing the challenges that come with Down Syndrome. He couldn’t walk until age three and couldn’t eat solid food until the age of five. However, despite numerous setbacks, Chris has achieved a feat that few others have ever managed. But what makes Chris so remarkable is his attitude toward success, and his ability to see a much bigger picture than just the immediate goal. When he finished the Ironman, he tweeted: “IRONMAN. Goal set and achieved. Time to set a new and BIGGER Goal for 2021. Whatever it is the strategy is the same. 1% Better every day.”
Chris understands that he has been blessed by a loving family and a strong support structure, and he wants to use his gifts to make the world just a little bit easier for others with Down Syndrome. Rather than rest on his laurels, Chris is looking ahead to the future, trying to be 1% better today than yesterday, and 1% better tomorrow than today. On Chris’s website, he offers up his services as a public speaker, and has this to say in regards to the motivational tone of his speaking engagements: “What wouldn't you do if you knew you could not fail? My story will inspire you to BELIEVE you can achieve more with a simple PLAN I follow to build a 1% Better HABIT. If I can achieve so much with so little so fast, IMAGINE what YOU can do?”
Chris Nikic is a success story, but not because he is an Ironman. No, Chris is a success, and a hero, because every day, he refuses to let circumstance dictate his life, and chooses instead to fight for living exactly the life that he desires to live. He is not just an inspiration for others with Down Syndrome, but is an inspiration for all us, because he is showing us that with dedication, perseverance, and a little help along the way, we too are capable of achieving the things that we dream of. But, as Chris points out, we need to have the courage to take the first step and be just 1% better today.
Thank you, Chris, for showing all of us that we are capable of achieving our dreams, if only we have the courage to act and the resilience to pursue those dreams with all of our energy.
As the proud father of three children, as well as an MFA graduate and published author, John spends most of his time trying to balance the demands of being a writer and a parent all at once. Most of the time, it’s an uphill battle. As the parent of a child with special needs, John tries to use his talent for writing to bring inspiration and hope to his readers.
For more information about John Will you can visit his website at the Writing Dad, Here and Facebook page Here.