It will be 32 years since the U.S. has hosted the Summer Olympics. It's almost as long as Nikki Barnes, skipper & Tokyo Olympian, has been alive (She'll be 34 at the next Olympics).

Teaming up with Nikki is former ILCA 7 sailor and now 470 super crew Ryan Squires. With the guidance of the U.S. Sailing Team and Olympic Development Team, we met in Miami, FL, for a trial training camp in February.



After a successful camp, we formed a team and began training to compete in the Mixed 470 event at the 2028 Summer Olympic Games!

Nikki grew up in St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands and began sailing at age 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 U.S. Coast Guard Academy, where she became a 3x All-American sailor for both Coed and Women's sailing, won the Collegiate Women's National Championship, earned the Quantum Woman College Sailor of the Year award, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Management with the officer corps rank of Ensign.

Nikki was stationed in the U.S. Coast Guard in Miami, FL, for 5 years, where she was able to serve in the U.S. Coast Guard and train for the 2020 Summer Olympic Games. At the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, she became the first Active Duty Coast Guard Officer as a Lieutenant Junior Grade (LTJG) to compete at the Olympic Games. With partner Lara Dallman-Weiss, she finished 12th place in 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 having a baby (currently 2 years old). After finishing 4th at the Paris Olympic trials, Nikki is hungry to return to the Olympic circuit with new teammate Ryan Squires. e in the Mixed 470 event at the 2028 Summer Olympic Games. 

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

Ryan grew up in Columbus, Ohio, where he discovered his passion for sailing at 7 years old in an Optimist. Ryan honed his racing skills in the Optimist, Thistle, VX One, Melges 15, c420, and a variety of keelboats. However, his strongest connection was with the Laser (ILCA), in which he achieved great success.

As an Ohio junior sailor, Ryan earned multiple youth titles, and in high school, he founded his school's sailing team, leading them to a state championship. Ryan also clinched the competitive Area E championship title four years in a row, in both the ILCA and Thistle.

Ryan is a graduate of Miami University of Ohio with a B.S. in Commerce, majoring in Small Business Management with a concentration in Data-Driven Decision Making. While in college, Ryan won the MCSA Singlehanded College Sailing Championship in the ILCA-7, a first for Miami U.​ At 15 years old, Ryan began his coaching career as a certified U.S. Sailing Instructor at Hoover Sailing Club.

He traveled around the country as a coach, progressing to positions such as Head Optimist Racing Coach at Sachems Head Yacht Club, Head ILCA Racing Coach at the Carolina Yacht Club, and Sailing Director at the Columbia Sailing Club. Ryan received his Merchant Mariner's Credential at age 21 through the U.S. Coast Guard. He has served on various vessels including a Sabre 66' motor yacht, Two Oceans 55' motor-catamaran, Sabre 45' motor yacht, and a Lagoon 45' sailing-catamaran.​

In 2024, Ryan competed in the U.S. Olympic Trials in the ILCA-7, demonstrating his dedication to representing the United States on the world's biggest stage. Following the trials, he earned a spot in the U.S. Sailing Olympic Development Program.​



Seeking to expand his skills and work for U.S. victory at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, Ryan transitioned from the ILCA to the 470 class with Nikole Barnes. Now more than ever, Ryan is determined to earn gold for the United States and make history in home waters.​

Fun fact: When Ryan isn't sailing, you'll likely find him on a surf or foil board, throwing up a big shaka and shouting his favorite life motto, "Livin Stoke!"

Next up we are putting in the hours on the water.

So, what does this mean?

We put 18-20 days a month on the water while working full-time. These days, we are building a strong foundation for our maneuvers, communication, and team cohesion! It looks like we are going in circles on the tracker! In April and part of May, we will work with several different U.S. Teams and talented coaches to continue building before we head to Europe in May for the 2025 470 European Championship in Split, Croatia, May 9-17.

Afterward, we head to Los Angeles to compete in the Olympic Sailing Week Regatta, hosted out of the Alamitos Bay Yacht Club, July 14-20, and train on the Olympic waters! 

Sometimes, sailing seems easy. Off the water, it seems at times as though our work is just beginning. We try to stay fit, we train, repair, and tune our boat, study the racing venues, listen to our coach, keep in touch with family and friends, laugh a little, try to eat healthy foods, keep an eye on our competition around the world, order parts & gear.

And we fundraise!

Sailing is expensive, and we can't do it without you. We pay for everything that is not donated to us. We pay for coaching, clinics, coach boats, sails, 470 boats, boat parts, gear, air travel, communications, insurance, entry fees, and more. So be a sport and help us in our sport. We are thrilled to have you on our team.

Please follow the links below to donate!

Do you know of a brand that wants to adopt a couple of Olympic Athletes?

We would love to form partnerships to help with our campaign and also promote the sport of sailing!



Follow the link below for sponsorship inquiries!

Send us questions, merchandise requests, follow us on Instagram below, send jokes/advice, and interact with us if you see us at your club or in the boat park! This journey is a marathon, and we can only reach our goals with a strong support system behind us. Thank you for your support!