Birklin became vice world champion in the juniors in 1990. In 1995 and 1999 he won the bronze medal with the Swedish men's relay. Birklin won the multi-stage orienteering O-rings in 2000 . In 2001 he became the first world champion in the newly introduced sprint competition in Tampere.
He has been running for Malungs OK Skogsmårdarna since 1999 . He won the Swedish long distance championship in 1994, 1999 and 2004. With the season of Tolered-Utby OL he won the title in 1994.
