Chris Nikic

22 year old with Down Syndrome surprising everyone by doing an Ironman, Boston marathon and public speaking. Things no one even imagined were possible.

[Chris Nikic @ChrisNikic]

I am Nik. Father of Chris Nikic. Ironman. 2X ESPY winner. World record holder. Trisomy 21. Pray for this person and his wife. He is describing our son Chris. And he is saying Chris’s life is not worth living. I wish he and his wife met Chris before this decision.

[Jesse Ridgway @McJuggerNuggets]

This week, my wife and I made the very difficult decision to terminate the pregnancy due to Trisomy 21.

The choice was not made lightly. We really appreciate all of the personal stories that you guys shared with us, especially the unconditional support we received from fans with no matter what we decided.

I know some of you may be very disappointed to hear this news. We are devastated. This has been extremely traumatic for both of us, especially Ashley.

She underwent the procedure earlier this week and is on the mend. Thankfully, everything went smoothly, but emotionally we are drained.

Trisomy 21, also known as Down Syndrome, is caused by an extra chromosome. It is caused by an error in cell division, like a glitch. The odds of a baby having it is 1 in 1000.

When I first confronted this news, I was shocked but optimistic. If they’re a little slow intellectually, then we’ll make it work. I signed on to be a parent, come what may…but I just didn’t fully understand what Down Syndrome entailed.

Once we made it public, it became clear that MOST people don’t know what Down Syndrome entails (and no, it’s not the same as Autism):

50% of babies with DS have heart defects. 75% will have hearing challenges. Over 50% will have vision problems. Impaired immune function, developmental disabilities, learning disabilities, delayed physical development, poor muscle tone, structural issues with face, decreased lifespan, etc…Sadly, the list is long, feel free to look it up…Down Syndome isn’t a “blessing”, it is objectively shitty from a health perspective.

I didn’t realize just how rough it is for the child, let alone the family…more often than not, they would be fully dependent on others for the rest of their life.

The miscarriage risk is also close to 50%, which made matters worse…they may never see the light of day and it puts Ashley further at risk.

We spoke with doctors, friends, family and genetic counselors and learned that up to 90% of women terminate their pregnancy after learning the baby has Trisomy 21.

This was WAY higher than I expected, I thought it would be lower given that I hear so many say they kept or would keep the baby. I believe that’s because most terminations happen privately, it feels shameful. A lot of judgment being cast.

You never think you’d be in this type of situation until it happens to you and then things change.

To all of my fans who have weighed in on this topic who have Autism, Down Syndrome or any other conditions…we appreciate you. You matter a lot and we’re glad you’re here. I commend you and your families for having the strength and courage to push forward.

As for us, we made a difficult decision that we believe in the long-run will be beneficial for our family. Thankfully, we had a choice.

It will take a little time to move on, but we are excited to try again in the future and hopefully have a better outcome.

Love you guys & thank you for understanding. ❤️

[Chris Nikic @ChrisNikic]

Prom night with my girl.

[GiGi's Playhouse Inc @GiGis_Playhouse]

Designed with athletes like @ChrisNikic, these aren't just sneakers—they’re a win for accessibility. When the world designs for everyone, we all win!

Read more about the story behind the Supernova Rise 3 https://t.co/COPU7EvCsv

[Chris Nikic @ChrisNikic]

@jordanbpeterson says anyone with an IQ below 83 can’t be taught to do anything. He’s wrong. I did an Ironman. I’m a public speaker. The problem is not that we can’t learn it’s that you haven’t figured out how to teach the way we learn. The 1% Academy will prove him wrong.

[Camus @newstart_2024]

Jordan Peterson shared one of the most sobering statistics I’ve heard in a long time.

The U.S. Armed Forces — after over a century of careful psychometric research driven by life-and-death necessity — will not induct anyone with an IQ below 83. They concluded that there is simply nothing in the military (at any level) that such a person can be trained to do without being counterproductive.

Peterson noted that this threshold captures roughly one in ten people. And if the military’s complexity is even roughly comparable to broader society, that means about 10% of the population has no viable place in our cognitively demanding world.

He emphasized that this isn’t about lack of money or short-term training. The data shows it’s extremely difficult to turn low cognitive ability into the kind of adaptive, creative problem-solving that modern society requires.

It’s a raw, uncomfortable truth about human variation that most people prefer not to discuss openly.

What do you think — is this statistic something society needs to confront honestly, or is there a better way to think about it?

[Chris Nikic @ChrisNikic]

These are amazing

[Rise Fitness @risefitnessky]

"What feels like a 2 out of 10 in pain for most people hurts like an 8 for me. @adidas understood exactly what I need in a shoe. Now I love running — because my feet don’t hurt anymore." - @ChrisNikic

https://t.co/bCGQugk8mo

[Chris Nikic @ChrisNikic]

Adidas realest Adaptive shoes.

[Pucurull @Pucurull]

'@ChrisNikic, un jove nord-americà amb síndrome de Down que inspira a milions de persones.

[Steve, dad of The Best DogS Ever @ScottsdaleVeins]

@ChrisNikic Our pooches LOVE these! @Nutrasource is the best.

[Orca @orcasportswear]

From redefining limits to inspiring millions — @chrisnikic’s story is a reminder that progress isn’t about giant leaps, it’s about small steps forward.

#ChasingEpic #RaisedInTheWater #Triathlon

[Chris Nikic @ChrisNikic]

A little modeling.

[Chris Nikic @ChrisNikic]

Ready to run @WMMajors marathon #7 @SydneyMarathons with friends @raymondbraun @RhondamVetere18

[Sydnye White @SydnyeWhite]

🎬 Honored to share that Impossible is Just a Word: A Special Olympics Story featuring @chrisnikic is screening at @stlfilmfest this Nov! Huge thanks to @wrongcreative & @specialolympics for the magic. Proud to be EP on the brand side.
Stream it free on @Kanopy!
#filmfestival

[Chris Nikic @ChrisNikic]

@TateTheTalisman Build an academy to teach people with intellectual disabilities to do what I did, Ironmans, marathons

[Chris Nikic @ChrisNikic]

Can’t believe this was 4 years ago. Today going back to ESPYs for fun to celebrate with the worlds most amazing athletes.

[Chris Nikic @ChrisNikic]

@Alan_Couzens What is “very long period of time?”

[Chris Nikic @ChrisNikic]

Going to Delaware to do a keynote in October.

[SHAPE Delaware @shapedelaware1]

We are so excited to announce our keynote speaker for our upcoming SHAPE Delaware Conference happening in October!

[Chris Nikic @ChrisNikic]

@LucyAnneCharles Me too.

[Chris Nikic @ChrisNikic]

Amazing day in the Hampton’s.

[Chris Nikic @ChrisNikic]

Another speech in a Grand Rapids with a Derby party for western Michigan Down Syndrome association.

[Chris Nikic @ChrisNikic]

Yes

[mk77 🔻 @CundullahMk77]

It is the best move for his career.

Sorry Lakers fans