Wed, 04 Oct 2023 00:03:30 GMT (1696377810353)
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Florida man with Down Syndrome competes in Ironman triathlon
PANAMA CITY BEACH, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 07: Chris Nikic (2L) exits the swim portion with his guide, Daniel Grieb (R), during IRONMAN Florida on November 07, 2020 in Panama City Beach, Florida. Chris Nikic is attempting to become the first Ironman finisher with Down syndrome. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images for IRONMAN)
PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (AP) — A 21-year-old Florida man says he could make history as the first person with Down Syndrome to compete in an Ironman triathlon, which includes a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and 26.2-mile run in a single day.
The Special Olympics connected Chris Nikic with Ironman competitor Dan Grieb who helped train him.
Florida race officials are requiring Nikic to be tethered to Grieb in the ocean Saturday for safety reasons. Grieb will also ride behind Nikic on the bike course and stay near him on the run.
But Nikic will do all the work on his own. He completed a practice, half-triathlon earlier this year in 8 hours, 25 minutes.
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