Nicholas Purnell started rowing in high school and made his first national team in 2009, the same year he won gold in the quad sculls at the 2009 Australian Youth Olympic Festival. One year later, the Sydney-sider competed in his first World Championships, winning bronze as part of the men's eight. He also picked up two World Cup medals in 2010, winning silver with the eight and gold with the four. Purnell stayed in the men’s four in 2011 and won bronze at the World Championships. He then returned to the eight and competed at his debut Olympic Games at London 2012. Throughout 2013 Purnell competed in the quad sculls before switching to the single sculls in 2014. After a period of time away, Purnell was selected to join the Reinhold Batshi Men's National Training Centre in Canberra in 2017/18. Joining his younger brother, Alex, Purnell was selected into Australia's Men's Eight for the 2018 World Rowing Cups. He counts I'm Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman by Britney Spears as his go to 'pump up' song, names Carrum Downs as his favourite place to row and works with Australian boat builder, Sykes, when he's not training.