The Nikic of Time

 

It was thirteen days ago that a bespectacled young man made himself a bit of history. Chris Nikic is twenty-one.  He is a Special Olympics athlete.  He has Down's Syndrome.  On the evening of Saturday, November 7, 2020 (probably while my lazy bones were splayed across a chair in my living room watching the mighty Colorado Buffaloes upset UCLA in their season opener), he became the very first person EVER with Down's Syndrome to complete a full-distance IRONMAN Triathlon. 

Presuming you have ever driven a mile on a roadway in these United States, you have seen people touting their completion of an IRONMAN Triathlon.  

They are ubiquitous.   

I do not know if young Mr. Nikic owns a car.  If he does, he has earned the right to adorn his ride with his IRONMAN Triathlon decal.  Under the rules of the competition, he had seventeen hours in which to complete the 2.4 mile open-water swim, 112 mile bike ride, and 26.2 mile run.  He crossed the finish line of the third and final leg, the marathon, in 16 hours, 46 minutes, and 9 seconds.  A testament to his grit and determination and to that of his coach and guide, Dan Grieb, who was with him every stroke, pedal, and step of the way. 

How did this young man overcome the hardships of this event to attain his goal?  By doing the same damn thing he has done to overcome the hardships of his day-to-day to live his life.  He underwent open-heart surgery when he was five months old. His body was so weak and his balance so poor that he was not able to walk on his own until he was four years old.  His parents fed him baby food until he was six to keep him from choking.  And yet he persevered.  Each time life knocked him on his ass, which it certainly appeared to take a perverse delight in doing, he dusted himself off, picked himself up, put one foot in front of the other, and kept moving forward. 

Congratulations to an extraordinary young man on this history-making accomplishment and for being an example for people everywhere - even those of us who are likely to never make his acquaintance or to shake his hand. His indomitable will serves as a reminder of the old adage that life is neither fair nor unfair.  It simply it what it is and it is whatever you make of it.   

Well done, young man.  Thank you very much for the reminder. 

By any measure, Chris Nikic comes up big.  Very, very big. 

-AK