Celebrating his 22nd birthday just three weeks before the Paralympic Regatta gets underway in Qingdao on 8 September Niki Birrell is the youngest sailor representing Team GB at the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Having previously sailed in the Olympic 470 class before starting his Paralympic career in the 2.4mR single-handed keelboat, Birrell joined forces with Alexandra Rickham in the two-person SKUD to campaign for Beijing selection. With the Paralympic selection process comprising a series of trial events, the pair finished fifth in their first ever competitive outing together at the Miami Olympic Classes Regatta in January before bronze at the March’s US Disabled Open Midwinters earned them the China nod. This is also the SKUD’s Paralympic debut.
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Name: |
Niki Birrell |
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Class: |
Skud 18 |
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Position: |
Helm |
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DOB: |
16 August 1986 |
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Born: |
Manchester |
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Currently Living: |
Knutsford, Cheshire |
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Started Sailing: |
I sailed Mirrors, 420s and 470s with my brother Christian and we qualified for Worlds in each of these classes |
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Duration in current class: |
Teamed up with Alex Rickham in November 2007 |
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Name of Sailing Partner: |
Alexandra Rickham |
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Coach: |
Harvey Hillary |
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Greatest Strengths in Sailing: |
Tactics |
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Greatest Weakness in Sailing: |
Boat work |
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Biggest Goal: |
Gold medal in China |
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Who has been the most influential person in your sailing career: |
There are two – my dad and my brother Christian |
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Other interests away from sailing: |
Watching Manchester City and spending time with my friends. I also play a bit of table tennis sometimes. |
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Personal sponsor: |
Little Britain Challenge Cup |
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Sailing Career to date: |
2008 IFDS Qingdao International Regatta Gold
2008 US Disabled-Open Midwinters Bronze
2008 Rolex Miami OCR 5th |
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Meet the sailor… |
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Who is Niki Birrell? |
A cerebral palsy athlete, Niki is the youngest member of the British saiing team and enjoyed significant success sailing with his brother, qualifying for the 420 Worlds when European Junior Mirror champions as well as making the 470 Worlds, before switching into the Paralympic Classes, firstly in the 2.4mR and then the SKUD.
He has one aim for 2008; win Paralympic gold and says the Americans have been their toughest opponents so far but they have not seen everyone yet. His hero is Tiger Woods and says he has too many embarrassing moments to mention falling out of boats although probably the worst was hitting a lobster pot in Miami! |