• Events:

  SKUD 18

• Home Town:

  Manchester

• Lives:

  Knutsford, Cheshire

• Trains:

  Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy

• Date Of Birth:

  16th August 1986

• Games Attended:

  London 12, Beijing 08

Niki is the youngest member of the British Paralympic Sailing team. Prior to switching into the Paralympic classes, he enjoyed significant success in Sailing with his brother. Their achievements included qualifying for the 420 Worlds and 470 Worlds and securing the title of European Junior Mirror champions, before Niki began competing in the 2.4mR, and then the SKUD 18.

At London 2012, Birrell and Rickham, who had finished 5th in Beijing, entered the competition as world champions. After several days of highly competitive racing, they were awarded the bronze medal after poor conditions on the final day of competition denied the duo the chance to race for silver.

In addition to the gold medal that Helena Lucas won in the 2,4mR, the achievement of the Birrell and Rickham helped ParalympicsGB to secure their most succesful performance in Sailing at a Paralympic Games since the event was formally introduced to the programme in 2000.

• 2012 London Paralympic Games
• SKUD 18 (with Alexandra Rickham): bronze

• 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games
• SKUD 18 (with Alexandra Rickham): 5th

• 2012 IFDS Worlds, Florida, USA
• SKUD 18 (with Alexandra Rickham): gold

• 2012 Scandia Sail for Gold, Weymouth, UK
• SKUD 18 (with Alexandra Rickham): gold

• 2012 Hyeres Regatta, Hyeres, France
• SKUD 18 (with Alexandra Rickham): silver

• 2012 Rolex Miami OCR, Florida, USA
• SKUD 18 (with Alexandra Rickham): silver

• 2011 IFDS Worlds, Weymouth, UK
• SKUD 18 (with Alexandra Rickham): gold

• 2011 Sail Melbourne Regatta, Melbourne, Australia
• SKUD 18 (with Alexandra Rickham): gold

• 2011 Skandia Sail for Gold, Weymouth, UK
• SKUD 18 (with Alexandra Rickham): silver

• 2011 Hyeres Regatta, Hyeres, France
• SKUD 18 (with Alexandra Rickham): gold

• 2011 Miami Regatta, Florida, USA
• SKUD 18 (with Alexandra Rickham): silver
   
• 2010 IFDS Worlds, Medemblik, the Netherlands
• SKUD 18 (with Alexandra Rickham): gold

• 2009 IFDS Worlds, Falirou, Greece
• SKUD 18 (with Alexandra Rickham): gold