By Mallory Mattingly
Chris Nikic made history as he became the first person with Down Syndrome to complete a full Ironman.
He completed the Ironman 70.3 Massachusetts, where he was guided by Dr. Tommy Martin, “who stepped in as his race guide for the event,” the Daily Mail reported.
Ahead of the race, Martin shared how he ended up being Nikic’s guide.
Nikic “needed a guide last minute, and I had the privilege of stepping in to race alongside him,” he posted on Instagram. “Chris made history as the first person with Down syndrome to complete a full Ironman, and I cannot think of a better reason to change my race plans than to help someone like him cross another finish line. Chris has and will continue to inspire millions!”
“I had countless people reach out showing me Chris needed a guide…but the decision wasn’t hard. Some opportunities don’t come twice. Some people make you want to be better just by being near them. Chris is one of those people,” Martin continued.
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Martin said that his son, Oliver, was diagnosed with Autism, and Nikic serves as an inspiration for what Oliver can do.
“And I’d be lying if I said I haven’t thought about Oliver. I don’t know yet what Oliver’s journey with sport will look like,” Martin said. “But if he ever wants to cross a finish line, I’ll be right there beside him. Step for step. Whatever it takes. Maybe this is just a subtle foreshadowing of what is to come!”
The race was a powerful moment for both of Nikic and Martin, as Martin shared in another post.
“The moment we received our son’s diagnosis, we promised we would never let it define his potential. Chris lives that mantra out every single day and proves it with every finish line he crosses,” he wrote, before adding, “I learned more in this race than almost any other I have competed in, and none of it was about race tactics or how to PR. It was about life, perspective, determination, and grit. I owe all of that to Chris.”
“I hope every finish line Chris crosses serves as a reminder to the world: your diagnosis, your situation, your circumstances do not define your potential! Every finish line looks different. Determine yours and do whatever it takes to cross it,” he concluded.
Nikic proves that with determination, hard work, consistency and support, we can do anything we set our minds to, regardless of our limitations.
Read Next: ‘She Is Worthy’: Why This Little Girl With Down Syndrome Is Going Viral on Tik Tok
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