During his marathon, Chris Nikic stops again and again.

Because he can no longer?

Because he wants to have a drink or something to eat?

No, to hug people.

People who came to cheer him on.

After six hours he crossed the finish line and shortly before that he stretched his arms into the sunny Boston sky.

Chris Nikic shows: A marathon runner is a marathon runner is a marathon runner. “When I was growing up, people treated me differently. They told me that I can't do this or that, ”Nikic said in an interview with CNN. Chris Nikic has been the first person with Down syndrome to finish an Ironman since November 2020. For a few days he has been the first person with Down syndrome to run a marathon. It was an incredible day, said Nikic afterwards. Why? He wants to be seen like any other runner. With every step he comes a little closer to this goal.

Whoever sees Nikic asks himself: yes, why can't everyone run together?

Why is there still more emphasis in sport on separating than making a joint competition possible?

Because everything that the audience sees again and again becomes: totally normal.

Let's do it like this!

How much a joint appearance could change the view of what an athlete can be.

In a December interview, Nikic's father said his son had the same opportunities as anyone his age.

Sure, why not?

His family wants disabled athletes to gain more visibility.

And get the opportunity to take part in runs.

All together in one event.

A German athlete was also preoccupied with this topic before the Olympic Games in Tokyo: Markus Rehm, athlete with a prosthetic leg.

A celebration of the unity of mankind in all our differences are the games, wrote the Executive Board of the IOC last summer.

And Rehm said: Let's do it like this!

He was not allowed to start at the Olympic Games.

What would Nikic say about that?

Maybe: a long jumper remains a long jumper?

Nikic now not only runs, but also gives motivational speeches.

For himself, he wants to keep raising the bar.

A sentence that many other athletes have said before him.

Next he will start the marathon in New York.

For the coming year he has planned something even harder: the Ironman Hawaii.