At dawn Saturday, When Chris Nikic plunges into the Gulf of Mexico for the start of Ironman Florida, the 21-year-old from Maitland will already have made history. He’ll be the first athlete with Down syndrome to compete in an Ironman — the brutal 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and 26.2-mile run strung together in a single day.
Making it to the finish line in the 17-hour time limit would be a supreme accomplishment for any athlete — the day can come with rip currents, jelly fish stings, battering winds, wilting heat and flat tires. But for Nikic, the journey here has been a mix of miracles and unrelenting determination.