He’s back – and better than ever.

Local junior high school student Nico Reyes returned to compete in the 2024 Katy Triathlon after realizing his dream in last year’s event -- being the first child in the world with Down Syndrome to complete a triathlon in the sprint category at just 11 years of age at that time – setting the world record as recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records. This year’s event took place on September 1 at Cane Island on Cane Island Parkway in Katy.

The Haskett Junior High student completed this year’s event in 1:50:25.8, said his father, Christian Reyes, in an interview with the Katy Times. “Nico managed to beat his personal record this year, achieving an incredible time,” he said. “We are very happy and proud of Nico's performance. This reflects the discipline he maintained throughout the year, as being consistent in training is not easy. We all face mental battles that we must constantly fight.”

In last year’s event, the pressure was on, and Nico fell at one point. “We were breaking a world record that day, and the times had to be managed very carefully,” said the boy’s father. “Nico initially did not want to continue [after he fell], but with love, everything is possible. Of course, as a parent, I was internally in shock and suffering, but I knew how much Nico loves it. [He] is a huge fan of Chick-fil-A and the go-karts at Andretti, so I promised to take him there, and that was enough for him to get back on the bike and continue pedaling without a second thought, finishing the race.”

He had two falls in his last two Sprint Triathlons, the most recent one being at the Cypress Triathlon a month ago, where a traffic cone was positioned too far in and a cyclist passing Nico couldn't avoid it in time, his father said. “It's not easy when you face setbacks like these because you already have a plan and an objective in mind, but things happen for a reason, and you just have to find a way to turn things around and give your best to come out victorious,” Christian Reyes said. “You are not defined by what you achieve but by what you overcome!”

Since last year’s event in Katy, Nico has been actively participating in several triathlon competitions. He qualified for the National Youth Triathlon held in Des Moines, Iowa, this past July, competing over two days; on the first day, he raced in the 13-16 age category where he was the only athlete with a disability, competing under unequal conditions, yet demonstrating incredible strength and an indomitable spirit, his father said. On the second day, he competed in his ADT2 category and proudly brought home second place in the National Youth Triathlon Championship for Texas.

“We have many plans in the works,” said Christian Reyes. “We've been approached by several coaches who are interested in having Nico explore other sports like cross-country and open water swimming. Nico has great endurance, and while he may not be as fast as other kids, his resilience is outstanding. As Nico’s parents, we are very mindful of his health, constantly monitoring him during training and competitions, keeping track of his heart rate, stress peaks, and focusing on recovery exercises so that he can continue his activities. This has likely helped Nico advance in his

athletic journey. One of our goals is for Nico to compete at the National Triathlon Championships again next year, and also the Youth Nationals. We're also working on a new world record in the Olympic category—whatever happens, happens, we don't want to push or overwhelm him. He's still a child, and we want him to enjoy this stage of life.”

“Our ultimate aim is the Special Olympics USA Games in 2026, where Nico currently participates in swimming, athletics, and field events,” Christian Reyes continued. “He is also part of the USA Down Syndrome Swimming Team. Support is greatly needed; maintaining participation in these competitions is not easy, as the entry fees are costly and a strong budget is required for each event, each of which necessitates its own plan and objectives. It is thanks to these competitions that we can maintain constant training, helping us reach where we are now. We would love to seek sponsors, but securing them is no easy task.”

“We would like to thank the Katy Rotary Club and Katy Triathlon for always being so generous with us,” said Christian Reyes. “We will soon be opening a coffee shop in Old Katy called an 'Active Coffee Shop,’ and we would love to have our entire community visit us. It will be a beautiful project, and in the future, we hope to employ individuals with disabilities. I have many friends from Special Olympics who are amazing athletes from the Katy Wolf Pack, and it would be wonderful to work with them.”