‘God Surrounded Me with Angels’: Man with Down Syndrome Completes Ironman Triathalon, Makes History
A Florida man with Down Syndrome just became the first Down Syndrome person in history to complete the Ironman Triathlon, CBN News reports.
In a lengthy Instagram post, Chris Nikic, the man who completed the triathlon, stated it was “all about awareness and inclusion. Awareness for Down Syndrome and Special Olympics. Inclusion for all of us with all of you.” He also said that “God surrounded [him] with Angels.”
The Ironman company also congratulated Nikic in their own Facebook post, stating, “Chris Nikic, YOU ARE AN IRONMAN! Congratulations Chris on becoming the first person with Down syndrome to finish an IRONMAN. You have shattered barriers while proving without a doubt that Anything is Possible!”
The Ironman Triathlon is one of the most difficult in the world. It includes a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride, and finishes with a 26.22-mile run, few runners compete each year due to how gruelingly difficult it is.
Nikic is using his win to raise money for Down Syndrome awareness and the Special Olympics. He said in his Instagram post that “if you want to support my mission for Down Syndrome and Special Olympics go to my website www.ChrisNikic.com because 100 percent of the donations go to my charities. I achieved my goal and now I want to help others like me.”
Nikic also commented on how he has received 33,000 new followers and is inundated with direct messages. He says he’ll respond to them as soon as he can, but it might take some time.
Ironman also commented on this in their Facebook post, saying “The opportunities you have created for others around the world through this journey you embarked upon, is immeasurable. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your remarkable life story and we can’t wait to see what you achieve next.”
Photo courtesy: Ironman Facebook
John Paluska has been a contributor for Christian Headlines since 2016 and is the founder of The Daily Fodder, a news outlet he relaunched in 2019 as a response to the constant distribution of fake news.
