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Press Release - Grandma's Marathon - 5/28/24

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

      World Record Holder, Endurance Sport Pioneer Chris Nikic To Run 
                          2024 Grandma's Marathon

         Will Also Make Appearances Promoting 1% Better Challenge

(DULUTH, MINN.) --- 2-time ESPY award winner and Guiness world record 
holder Chris Nikic will be at the starting line of the 2024 Grandma's 
Marathon, the organization announced today.

Nikic was born with Down syndrome and was unable to walk well until age 4, 
but recently he became the first person with Down Syndrome to complete each 
of the World Marathon Majors (New York City, Boston, Chicago, Berlin, 
London, and Tokyo) and earn the coveted Abbott Six Star medal.

In 2020, before completing any of his running-only marathons, Nikic became 
the first person in the world to ever complete an Ironman Triathlon - that 
competition consists of a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride, and 26.2-mile 
run.

Nikic beat his own time two years later at the 2022 World Championships, 
and that mark of 16 hours, 31 minutes still stands as an official Guiness 
world record.

After accomplishing a goal that once seemed out-of-reach, Nikic co-wrote a 
book with his father, Nik, titled 1% Better: Reaching My Full Potential and 
How You Can Too.

The book chronicles Nikic's journey from childhood to his teenage years, 
when after high school he was an admitted "overweight, out-of-shape" 
18-year-old. As he slowly developed an affinity for exercise, Nikic also 
slowly changed his perception of what was possible in his life.

"That's when he wrote on the wall that he was going to be a ‘world champ'," 
his father Nik said. "We didn't dismiss what he was telling us as 
impossible, we took it to heart and believed him. Then, we got to work 
helping him achieve that goal."

Chris will speak at the Essentia Health Fitness Expo at 12:00 p.m. on 
Friday, June 21, and Nik will follow that at 1:00 p.m. as a guest for a 
panel discussion on the inclusion of neurodivergent and disabled athletes 
in endurance sporting events like Grandma's Marathon. Both presentations 
are free and open to the public.

The Nikic's will also be visiting Northwood Children's Services west campus 
on Thursday, June 20, with Chris set to speak to the kids and lead them 
through the "1% Better Challenge."

"We're honored to have Chris as part of our 2024 Grandma's Marathon 
weekend," Marketing & Public Relations Director Zach Schneider said. "We 
met Chris and his dad two years ago in Denver, and I don't think there was 
a dry eye in the place after Chris had given his presentation. He's exactly 
the type of person we want at our starting line, and we're excited to 
continue the conversation about how those doors can be opened to other 
athletes like Chris."

Down syndrome is a chromosome disorder caused by an extra chromosome 21, 
which prompted the creation of the Runner 321 initiative aiming to welcome 
more neurodivergent athletes into endurance sports. On race day in Duluth, 
Chris will wear race bib No. 321 as a symbol of that initiative.

ABOUT GRANDMA'S MARATHON

Grandma's Marathon began in 1977 when a group of local runners planned a 
scenic road race from Two Harbors to Duluth, Minnesota. After seeing just 
150 participants that year, the race weekend has now grown into one of the 
largest in the United States and welcomes more than 20,000 participants for 
its three-race event each June.

The race got its name from the Duluth-based group of famous Grandma's 
Restaurants, the first major sponsor of the marathon. In addition to the 
26.2-mile race, the organization has now added the Garry Bjorklund Half 
Marathon and William A. Irvin 5K to its weekend offerings.

As the popularity of Grandma's Marathon has grown, our mission has stayed 
the same - to organize, promote, and deliver annual events and programs 
that cultivate running, educational, social, and charitable opportunities 
to our communities.

Grandma's Marathon-Duluth, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit 
organization with a nine-person, full-time staff and a 17-member Board of 
Directors.

                                     ###

 

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