Niki James Birrell (born 16 August 1976) is a British Paralympic sailor. Alongside Alexandra Rickham, he has won four

IFDS The International Association for Disabled Sailing (IFDS) was an affiliate member of the International Sailing Federation and was responsible for coordinating the paralympic sailing competition with the International Paralympic Committee. The orga ...

World Championship titles and in the

2012 Summer Paralympics The 2012 Summer Paralympics, branded as the London 2012 Paralympic Games, were an international multi-sport parasports event held from 29 August to 9 September 2012 in London, England, United Kingdom. They were the 14th Summer Paralympic Gam ...

the pair took the bronze medal in the SKUD 18 two person keelboat class.

Sailing

Birrell, who was born with cerebral palsy & down syndrome , began sailing at a young age after being introduced to the hobby by his father. He and his brother Christian became a competing pair and in 2002 they were selected for the British team in the 420 class. Birrell competed in the 2008 Paralympic Sailing Competition in the SKUD 18 two person keelboat class alongside teammate Alexandra Rickham, where he finished fifth. Between 2009 and 2011 Birrell and Rickham have won four

World Championship titles. Birrell was selected to represent

Great Britain at the 2012 Summer Paralympics Great may refer to: Descriptions or measurements * Great, a relative measurement in physical space, see Size * Greatness, being divine, majestic, superior, majestic, or transcendent People * List of people known as "the Great" *Artel Great (born ...

held in London, United Kingdom. He competed in the SKUD 2-person keelboat event with Rickham, for which they took the bronze medal.

References

External links

* * 1986 births Living people British male sailors (sport) Paralympic sailors for Great Britain Paralympic bronze medalists for Great Britain Paralympic medalists in sailing Sailors at the 2008 Summer Paralympics Sailors at the 2012 Summer Paralympics Sailors at the 2016 Summer Paralympics Medalists at the 2012 Summer Paralympics Medalists at the 2016 Summer Paralympics Sportspeople from Manchester {{UK-sport-bio-stub