1. Set Focus
Pose this essential question: What propels the human spirit to overcome adversity?
2. Read and Discuss
Have students read the article, marking key ideas and questions. Then ask them to answer the following questions, citing text evidence:
- Why did Nikic want to compete in the Ironman triathlon? (Nikic had participated in sports in high school. But after a series of surgeries, he had grown weak, and he wanted to prove that he could do more than he ever had before. He also felt that competing in the Ironman would mean that he could accomplish anything, including having his own home, living independently, and getting married one day and having his own family.)
- What challenges did Nikic overcome to complete the Ironmam triathlon? (Nikic had to complete the swimming segment tethered to his guide, for safety reasons. During the cycling segment, because of balance issues, he had to stop to hydrate, using up valuable time. When stopping at the 22nd mile—early in that part of the race—his legs were bitten by red ants and became swollen. He also crashed his bike at one point. During the marathon segment, Nikic endured incredible pain. His feet burned, and his back muscles felt like they “had been put through a shredder.”)