In addition to remaining active, Bahamian Olympian Andretti Bain is ensuring that others do so as well, and at the same time, is promoting The Bahamas.
Bain, who won Olympic silver with The Bahamas’ men’s 4×400 meters (m) relay team in 2008 in Beijing, China, made a unique appearance on the Olympic Channel via the official Olympic Games Instagram account, on Tuesday, conducting a 30-minute full body workout with the host of the show Mathilde ‘Matty’ Delorme.
The live virtual event featuring Bain leading the session from a beachfront home of one of his clients here in Nassau, The Bahamas, was seen all around the world on a social medial platform with 2.7 million viewers.
Bain, 35, said he received tremendous feedback and is looking forward to being contacted for another session. He received the opportunity through a partnership with Airbnb and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), performing live in front of millions of viewers. Airbnb, the largest accommodations based online marketplace in the world, has created a new platform on its website featuring Olympian and Paralympian experiences, providing direct earning opportunities for athletes while at the same time providing activities for its guests during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bain said he initially came on board last April, and after his accomplishments were verified, he had to put together a workout experience and at the same time promote The Bahamas.
“It just amazes me that with technology we could bring the whole world closer together. This is amazing. They have given me free rein to be creative and to entertain the audience as long as it sticks to the format,” said Bain. “I just sold to them what I was offering – speak on Olympic journey, all the ups and downs and how I was resilient; give a 30-minute workout featuring the same routine that I do for personal training; and also highlight The Bahamas, speaking of how guests could just sit on a beautiful beach in warm weather year-round and enjoy a nice lemonade. People sign on from all over the world and enjoy the workout and the experience.”
Bain is well-accomplished as an athlete. He is one of just nine Bahamians to run under 45 seconds in the men’s 400m, recording a personal best time of 44.62 seconds that he ran to win the men’s 400m title at the 2008 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Bain is the fourth-fastest Bahamian of all-time in the men’s 400m.
“I was able to get a lot of good reviews – five star ratings,” said Bain. “They felt really good about it, the openness of allowing persons to see behind the scenes of being an athlete and working out with an Olympian. Here I am highlighting a particular aspect of myself and The Bahamas. Also, we talked how to keep faith during crisis times and how to use that as an opportunity for growth. I was able to highlight not just my story but The Bahamas as well. A lot of persons are unable to travel because of all of the restrictions but by signing on with the Olympic experiences with Andretti Bain, they can become a part of the experience here in The Bahamas and see what The Bahamas is all about.”
As it relates to the trials and tribulations he faced and what it takes to be an Olympian, Bain said that was all a part of what he spoke about in the short session. For him personally, he persevered and became an NCAA Champion after four years of collegiate training and never giving up. He went on to represent The Bahamas at the Olympics that same year, running the lead-off leg for The Bahamas’ silver medal winning 4x400m relay team. Bain is also a Pan Am Games gold medalist in the men’s 4x400m relay, a Commonwealth Games silver medalist in the men’s 4x400m relay, a Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games silver medalist in the men’s 4x400m relay, and a multiple medalist at the CARIFTA Games and CAC Junior Championships.
“A lot of people don’t realize the sacrifices that athletes make and the journey it takes to become an NCAA Champion and an Olympian,” said Bain. “For me, I was so motivated through the trials and tribulations and just kept pursuing my goals. I wanted to put the Bahamian colors on and represent The Bahamas. From me sharing my experiences, people from all over the world get to learn so much about The Bahamas and have a better understanding of what athletes go through.”
Bain’s experience can be viewed on the Olympic Games Instagram page or on his website www.andrettibain.com. Interested persons can book a private workout session with him through Airbnb’s website at the tab Olympian and Paralympian experiences, or by performing a search for his name – Andretti Bain. It’s titled ‘Olympic Journey with Andretti’. In facilitating the platform, one of the goals of the IOC was to keep the interest of the Tokyo Olympic Games at a high level. The postponed Olympics is now set for July 23 to August 8, still in Tokyo, Japan.
“It’s just an introduction of who I am, my career achievements and accolades, and then there is high intensity training for about 25 minutes – workouts that people can do at home,” said Bain. “I just want to encourage athletes to venture outside of their sport – we are globally recognized and there are many more opportunities out there beyond track and field. We have to take advantage of those opportunities and see ourselves as more than just athletes. It’s very frustrating sitting around waiting on assistance from the government or the athletics federation. I’m also appealing to the government to create programs that can expose athletes throughout the world. It could be a business opportunity for the athlete and it also benefits the country as a whole. It showcases The Bahamas to millions of persons around the world. It’s just about branching out and discovering these opportunities.”
The first part of Bain’s online workout focused on mobility and strength, the second part detailed a cardiovascular exercise, the third part was a strength workout, the fourth part dealt with core muscles, and the fifth part was a cool down and stretch period. Bain said he is looking forward to more sessions in the future and more opportunities to showcase The Bahamas.
The post Bain showcases The Bahamas on Instagram appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.
source https://thenassauguardian.com/bain-showcases-the-bahamas-on-instagram/
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