Chris Nikic knows what he wants in life. “My dream is to buy my own house, buy my own car, [and] get a smoking hot blonde wife from Minnesota,” the 21-year-old tellsBut Chris, who has Down syndrome, realizes this reality won’t be handed to him. “My dad says if you sit on the couch and play video games, you’ll never get your dreams,” he says.
From a young age, Chris Nikic was told he wouldn’t be able to do much. He couldn’t walk until he was four. Now, he’s preparing for his first Ironman in November.On November 7, when Chris wades into the waters of the Gulf of Mexico at the Ironman Florida race in Panama City Beach, he won’t just be racing for himself. He’ll be racing for the millions of others living with disabilities who have been told, often and from a young age, what they can and can’t do.
Nik and Patty’s mindset shifted when Chris got involved with the Special Olympics triathlon and built up enough skill and endurance to do a 1,000-meter open-water lake swim last October.After emerging from the lake, Chris—in accordance with local tradition—earned the right to sign his name on the wall of a nearby house. In black marker, he scrawled: “Chris World Champ,” and the words planted a seed in Nik’s mind.
Jokes aside, Chris’s triumphs so far, his coach and Special Olympics partner Dan Grieb says, are thanks in part to his adherence to a simple yet powerful philosophy: Just get 1 percent better everyday.“It’s easy to be successful because I only need to get one percent better each day,” Chris explains. What started as one push-up a year ago is now 160; what began as one lap swim, morphed, over time, into 4,200 continuous yards.
In turn, Chris, who is known to hug anyone and everyone, spreads the good vibes forward. He transformed “our whole Central Florida triathlon group into a hugging culture that now is all united around Chris completing this Ironman,” says Grieb, recalling that more than 100 hundred people came out in May to cheer him on as he tackled the half Ironman.
Fantastic, well done to you!
Get some Chris! You’re an inspiration to all.
What a powerful story 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
Just fantastic!
You can do it✊
Inspiring
Chase the goal! The adventure maketh the man!
TheOtherLori I’m FB friends with him. He’s on fire!!!🔥
Outstanding!!! You go man, you got this!! NoExcuses JustDoIt doyou
Been following this young man for the last few months on Instagram & he’s very inspiring. The level of training he is putting in is overwhelming & hopefully come race day, he will smash it 👍🏻 1%better
Yes! 🏃
Badass 💪💪❤️❤️
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