Five years ago, Kris Nikic He was the first person in the world with Down syndrome to complete an Ironman, a demanding triathlon that combines three sports - swimming, cycling and running. And there was nothing to suggest that it was even possible, just his family's faith in them to do everything they could.
Meanwhile, 16 Special Olympics athletes finished the race in the same discipline, 12 of whom were from Florida, where the Nikić family lives.
“Helping Chris and his friends reach this level of success required a huge investment of time, money, and specialized knowledge. I was fortunate to have access to all three, but most families don’t. Through our experience, we learned something very important: success can be replicated – but only in the right environment. With Chris’s friends, we intentionally created an environment that combined training, structure, faith, and support,” Chris’s father tells Vijesti. Nik Nikic, who was himself involved in the sports development of these young people.
Nick, originally from Montenegro, believes that such success, neither Kris's nor that of other young people, would not have been possible if their parents had not believed in them.
"In the world of neurodivergent children, parents make the decisions. If parents don't trust, the opportunity never happens," he said recently in a post on Instagram.
In an interview with "Vijesti", he spoke about the process that led to other Special Olympics athletes, after Chris, receiving the Ironman title and becoming "iron men", but also the status of a sports academy for young people like Chris and his friends, which he expects to be launched in the United States of America (USA) in the summer, by autumn at the latest.
His long-term plan is to establish such an academy for Europe in Montenegro.
Nik Nikić was born and raised in Montenegro. At the age of nine, he and his family moved, first to Austria, and then to the United States of America (USA), where he still lives with his wife. Pat and two children, Kris and Jackie.
THE ACADEMY WOULD PROVIDE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO EVERYONE
Nik Nikić announced in an interview with a reporter from "Vijesti" two years ago, when he and Kris were in Montenegro, where the young man participated in the Ocean Lava Montenegro triathlon event in Kotor, that he plans to establish a sports academy whose participants would be children and young people with disabilities.
The idea has since matured and they are now in the process of finding a location for the academy in the USA.
"We are currently negotiating a potential location (campus) for the Academy and expect to make a decision by the end of February," Nik told the editorial team.
He explains that the goal of such an academy is to make the kind of environment that led Chris and his friends to achieve significant results and become Ironmen accessible to a much wider audience. In this way, Nick says, success would no longer be limited to those with the right resources or connections.
"Our plan is to first launch a part of the Academy that will prepare future leaders who will help work with the participants. After that, we will build the necessary infrastructure and start recruiting the participants themselves. We hope to launch the full Academy by the summer, or at the latest by the beginning of autumn," he said.
He also explained that, in the initial phase, participants will have to be 18 years of age or older.
“Our goal is to include people from the US and around the world. We want to develop role models who will return to their communities and inspire others with what they have achieved. Currently, we already have interest from individuals from Europe, South America and across the US who would like to be part of the first generation,” said Nikić.
Once the Academy becomes active, he adds, the plan is to expand its work to all ages, through a camp-like format, so that those interested can come and experience the Academy and a week of the program.
Applications will, he said, be open once the location selection and timeframe for the official start of work are finalized.
"Diversity is extremely important to us, we want to show what is possible for people of different backgrounds, abilities and cultures," says Nikić.
During his stay in Montenegro two years ago, Nikić was in contact with several families of neurodivergent and children and youth with developmental disabilities. When it comes to their participation in the Academy, he said that they do not have such contact yet, but are looking forward to it:
“We haven't been in contact with families from Montenegro yet, but we would absolutely love to identify a few students from Montenegro who would participate,” he says.
“ONE PERCENT BETTER” PROGRAM
Kris Nikić was 21 years old when he became the first person with Down syndrome to complete an Ironman race in November 2020. He was also entered into the Guinness Book of Records at that time. The Ironman distance involves a 3,8-kilometer swim, a 180-kilometer bike ride, and a marathon, or 42-kilometer run.
Previously, Chris was a Special Olympics athlete in Florida, but he wasn't that good, nor did he compete in any competitions, either in Florida or anywhere in the US.
At that time, his father previously said, Chris couldn't do a single push-up, run 100 meters, swim 25 meters, or ride a bike without falling.
With the philosophy of "one percent better every day," three years later, Chris became an Ironman.
"It's a very powerful strategy that can help anyone achieve incredible results, as long as they are willing to follow the plan," he previously told "Vijesti" and added that the same principle, which is normally applied in the corporate world of sales, can be applied anywhere - in sports, education, personal relationships.
The same program was applied to Kris' friends, other Special Olympics athletes:
“Last year, our main focus was to help more athletes complete the Ironman race, to create more visible role models. We achieved that goal at Ironman Florida in November. The group consisted of athletes from Florida, several other US states, as well as a young woman from the Netherlands who came to live with us and successfully completed the Ironman as the first participant from Europe,” says Nick.
KRIS IS NOW COMPETING WITH HIS FRIENDS
After becoming the first Ironman with Down syndrome, Chris has also completed six world marathons: New York, Boston, Chicago, London, Berlin and Tokyo, completed the Ironman in Hawaii, the Ultraman triathlon (10 kilometers of swimming, 250 kilometers of cycling and 84 kilometers of running)...
"Chris continues to compete with his friends, while also focusing on their support. He also continues to be heavily involved in public speaking and public speaking," his father said.
Chris earns money as a speaker, but also thanks to sponsorship deals with Adidas and other companies.
Kris' first Ironman not only changed his life and the lives of his athlete friends, but also the sports industry - Ironman and major world marathons now have a new category for competitors with intellectual disabilities, which initially makes registering for their participation simpler.
Companies like Adidas are interested in and are producing shoes for these athletes, especially those with Down syndrome, who have small, flat feet and otherwise cannot find suitable running shoes, Nick previously told "Vijesti".
Over the past year, Chris has also started a new emotional relationship:
"He has a girlfriend who also has Down syndrome and they enjoy doing almost everything together. It's a beautiful, supportive relationship and he's very happy."
LOOKING FOR POSSIBLE COOPERATION
During their stay in Montenegro two years ago, the Nikićs were guests of the Special Olympics of Montenegro. When asked if they had any contact with state institutions or the Special Olympics after that, Nik answered in the negative:
"No, we haven't been in contact with any institution or organization there yet."
However, he answers the question about the possibility of cooperation in the affirmative:
"Yes, absolutely. One of my long-term dreams is to build the first European Academy in Montenegro. We would like to explore what this cooperation could look like."
Ocean Lava is a favorite event, next time a bigger group will come
The Nikićs were in Montenegro two years ago, when Kris participated in Ocean Lava Montenegro in Kotor, where competitors compete in the Ironman half-distance (1,9 kilometer swim, 90 kilometer bike ride, and half marathon, or 21 kilometer run).
Speaking about participating in Ocean Lava Montenegro, Nik says it is one of their favorite events anywhere in the world. “We would love to go back. The past year has been very busy with the launch of the Academy and supporting our athletes, which has made travel difficult. But we definitely want to go back - and next time bring a bigger group with us,” he says.
Bonus video:
