Nikki Barnes

Nikki grew up in St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands and began sailing at the age of 6 in the optimist! She competed internationally at 11 and won her first medal (Bronze) a few years later at the 2011 Youth Worlds in the i420 in Zadar, Croatia.

 

Nikki attended the Coast Guard Academy where she became a 3x All American sailor for both Coed and Women’s sailing, won a national championship, won college sailor of the year, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Management. She was stationed with the Coast Guard in Miami, FL for 5 years where she was able to serve in the Coast Guard and train for the Olympic Games. At the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan she began the first Active Duty Coast Guard Officer to compete at the Olympic Games.

 

With partner Lara Dallman-Weiss she finished 12th place at her first Olympic Games. Since then Nikki has spent a lot of time training in the 470, coaching a range of sailors from youth sailors to pro sailors, and had a baby along the way (currently 2 years old).

 

After finishing 4th at the Paris Olympic trials, Nikki is hungry to get back into the Olympic circuit with new teammate Ryan Squires.

 

Fun fact: Nikki danced ballet for 16 years and while she is graceful in the boat she was never the best dancer!