Additional Information
Highlights
| Rank | Event | Year | Location |
|---|
| Olympic Winter Games |
| 1 | Parallel Giant Slalom | 2010 | Vancouver, BC, CAN |
| 12 | Parallel Giant Slalom | 2006 | Torino, ITA |
| 24 | Parallel Giant Slalom | 2002 | Salt Lake City, UT, USA |
| FIS World Championships |
| 2 | Parallel Slalom | 2011 | La Molina, ESP |
| 15 | Parallel Giant Slalom | 2011 | La Molina, ESP |
| 16 | Parallel Slalom | 2013 | Stoneham, QC, CAN |
| 18 | Parallel Giant Slalom | 2013 | Stoneham, QC, CAN |
| FIS World Cup Rankings overview - displays all rankings from 2010/11, top three for earlier seasons |
| Season | ALL | PS | PGS | PAR | ASP |
|---|
| 2013/2014 | - | 28 | 16 | 21 | - |
| 2012/2013 | - | 21 | 6 | 11 | - |
| 2011/2012 | - | - | - | 15 | 22 |
| 2010/2011 | - | - | - | 15 | 27 |
| 2009/2010 | 2 | - | - | 1 | - |
| 2007/2008 | 1 | - | - | 1 | - |
| 2002/2003 | - | - | - | 2 | - |
| 2001/2002 | - | - | - | 2 | - |
| Best performance per season in FIS World Cup events from 2010/2011 |
| Season | PS | PGS |
|---|
| 2013/2014 | 1 x 18th | 1 x 11th |
| 2012/2013 | 2 x 16th | 1 x 2nd |
| 2011/2012 | 1 x 15th | 1 x 4th |
| 2010/2011 | 1 x 14th | 2 x 7th |
| Rank | Event | Year | Location |
|---|
| Ten best FIS World Cup performances in current season |
| 11 | Parallel Giant Slalom | 2013/2014 | Sudelfeld, GER |
| 18 | Parallel Slalom | 2013/2014 | Carezza, ITA |
| 18 | Parallel Giant Slalom | 2013/2014 | Carezza, ITA |
| 22 | Parallel Giant Slalom | 2013/2014 | Rogla, SLO |
| 26 | Parallel Slalom | 2013/2014 | Bad Gastein, AUT |
| 26 | Parallel Slalom | 2013/2014 | Bad Gastein, AUT |
LegendALL-Overall, PGS-Parallel Giant Slalom, PS-Parallel Slalom, PAR-Parallel Overall, SBX-Snowboard Cross, ASP-Parallel and Snowboard Cross overall ranking, HP-Halfpipe, BA-Big Air, SBS-Slopestyle, AFU-Freestyle overall ranking, BA/SBS-Big Air and Slopestyle overall ranking, DNS-Did not start, DNF-Did not finish, DSQ-Disqualified
- Nickname: Niki (sinner.eu, 15 Dec 2013)
- Occupation: Athlete
- Languages Spoken: Dutch, English, French, German
- Sporting Relatives: Her sister Marieke has competed as a professional snowboarder. (reiskrant.nl, 09 Jun 2005)
- Injuries: In September 2013 she sustained an injury to one of the vertebra in her back. She was unable to train until the end of November that year. (nicoliensauerbreij.nl, 20 Nov 2013)
In October 2012 she had surgery on an umbilical hernia which had caused her abdominal pain. She missed four weeks training. (nicoliensauerbreij.nl, 18 Oct 2012)
She suffered from bursitis in her left foot at the beginning of the 2008/09 season. She underwent surgery in October 2008 and returned to competition two months later. (nicoliensauerbreij.nl, 14 Dec 2008)
- Hobbies: Cycling, running, speed skating, football. (Twitter profile, 18 Dec 2013)
- Education: Management
- Coach: Maarten Sauerbreij [father] (NED) (boekhoudingharm.com, 08 Nov 2013)
- Debut: 1996 for Netherlands, World Cup (Tignes) (fis-ski.com, 12 Dec 2013)
- Previous Olympics: Vancouver 2010, Torino 2006, Salt Lake City 2002
Additional Information
Start of sporting careerShe first tried skiing at age two. At age 12 she began snowboarding on a board that had been handmade by her father. (nicoliensauerbreij.nl, 20 Nov 2013)
Reason for taking up this sportHer father was a ski instructor so it was natural that she took up the sport. (nicoliensauerbreij.nl, 20 Nov 2013)
AmbitionsTo medal in the parallel slalom and parallel giant slalom at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. (boekhoudingharm.com, 08 Nov 2013)
TrainingMuch of her training is done away from the slopes. She does a lot of cycling, endurance training, running, as well as strength work for her arms and legs. (nicoliensauerbreij.nl, 20 Nov 2013)
Most memorable sporting achievementWinning gold at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. (sinner.eu, 15 Dec 2013)
Sporting philosophy / motto"Have fun and believe in yourself." (sinner.eu, 15 Dec 2013)
AwardsShe was the flag bearer for the Netherlands at the opening ceremony of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City. (hotelssochi2014.com, 22 Nov 2013)
GeneralNATIONAL FIRST
At the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, she became the first Dutch athlete to win an Olympic gold medal in a snow event. (olympischstadion.nl, 18 Jun 2013)
OLYMPIC SCALE EMBARRASSMENT
During the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, she accidentally put the wrong type of wax on her board. This affected the speed of her board during the race and meant she did not qualify for the knockout rounds. (reiskrant.nl, 09 Jun 2005)
RIGHT TO PLAY AMBASSADOR
She has been an ambassador for the charity 'Right to Play' since 2002. The organisation promotes programmes to improve health and develop life skills for children in disadvantaged areas. In 2012 she went to Palestine to understand the role of the organisation in the area. (nicoliensauerbreij.nl, 20 Nov 2013)
Social MediaHear more from the athlete via their
website,
Twitter and
Facebook.