1% Better: Reaching My Full Potential and How You Can Too

Chris Nikic is the 21-year-old man who made history as the first person with Down syndrome to complete an Ironman triathlon. Guiness World Records recognized Chris’s achievement after he finished a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride, and a 26.2-marathon run at the Ironman Florida competition in Panama City Beach. He completed the race in 16 hours 46 minutes and 9 seconds—14 minutes under the 17-hour cutoff time.

What drives Chris is this: “My mission is to honor God by being the best me I can be so I can be an example to others. I want to change the perceptions and raise expectations for others like me so we can reach our God-given potential. Believe and Achieve by getting 1% Better.”

Chris and his father, Nik, developed the "1% Better Challenge" to stay motivated during training. After his record-setting achievement, Chris will continue training for the 2021 Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii, as well as the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games.

NIK NIKIC brings over 20 years of experience in helping clients maximize top line revenue. Nik’s expertise is focused in developing a “Sales Performance Optimization System” through a hybrid approach of integrating sales process, CRM tools, and sales skills into one cohesive solution.

Over the years Nik and his organization have worked with many global companies like United Technologies, Computer Sciences Corporation, Toshiba, Deloitte, RICOH, Tech Data, Progress Energy, Clear Channel, Siemens, Xerox, Gartner Group, EMC, Parametric Technology, SCT, Cambridge Technology, GE Capital, OCE/Imagistics, NICE Systems and many others.

Nik is the father of Chris Nikic, the first person with Down syndrome to ever complete a full IRONMAN.  Together they developed the 1% Better Challenge to help keep Chris motivated during his training. Having trained thousands of people during his career, Nik says, “Chris is the most coachable person I’ve ever met.”

Don Yaeger is a 12-time New York Times bestselling author, longtime Associate Editor for Sports Illustrated, and one of the most in-demand public speakers on the corporate circuit. Throughout his writing career, he has developed a reputation as a world-class storyteller and has been invited as a guest on numerous major talk and news shows – from The Oprah Winfrey Show to Nightline and Good Morning America. In addition to writing and speaking, Yaeger is the host of the highly rated Corporate Competitor Podcast.