Nothing has come easy for Chris who faced many challenges in his childhood. His father, Nick, said that his son suffered from illnesses most of his life. Chris was born with Down syndrome (唐氏综合征) and underwent many major surgeries. All through his illnesses, the little boy always had a strong will.

“When you have children with Down syndrome, they don't fit in, they are different and they don't get invited to parties. They don't get invited to anything. Everything you do is a challenge, it is a fight. It is a battle to just get them to be included,” Nick said.

Despite his life challenges, Chris tries hard to stay positive and work hard to overcome his difficulties. “Don't tell me that I'll fail,” the young man replies to those who tell him he can't do something.

Chris has always been athletic, so his father found a Special Olympics Marathon Triathlon program for him to participate in. His father viewed the program as a fun thing they could do together. He encouraged Chris to do something that no one had ever done before. He knew accomplishing a challenging event such as the Ironman Triathlon would make an incredibly powerful impact, not only on his son but on many others with disabilities. He asked Chris if he would be interested in participating in the most challenging race. “Yes, let's do it!” Chris enthusiastically replied.

Individuals with Down syndrome, like Chris, often struggle with poor balance and delayed reaction time. Therefore, it took him a little longer to complete training routines in the beginning. However, Chris is no quitter, he kept on practicing. With his courage, willpower and his family's encouragement, every day he grew better, faster and stronger.