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Sgt Adz Baird – Aiming For Olympics Glory 2022
All at RNRL wish Academy winger Adz the best of luck as he pursues his aim of becoming pilot for the 2022 GB Bobsleigh team!
The following article was published today by Navyfit and can be found at the Navyfit FB page at https://www.facebook.com/royalnavysport/posts/3347817418637162
along with more images of Adz in bobsleigh action
Royal Marine looks to pilot Bobsleigh in 2022 Winter Olympics
A member of the Royal Marines for 12 years, Sgt Adam (Adz) Baird started his bobsleigh career competing for the Royal Navy in 2017. Adapting to this fast and furious sport, Adam’s prowess was in piloting the sled. He formed part of the two successive Inter Service Championship titles, however competing for the RN was just not enough.
Having attended a GB development event early in 2019, Adam was invited by the National Governing Body (NGB), the BBSA to join the GB Bobsleigh Development squad where he went on to compete on the Europa circuit with L/Cpl Taylor Lawrence as his brakeman. Over the 2019/20 season they came a respectable 24th and more importantly was formally requested by the NGB to join the GB Squad on a full time basis to provide opportunity to compete for a position on the team preparing for the 2022 Winter Olympics.
Coming from an active sporting background, Adam has competed at National Level in Powerlifting, achieving a personal best 247.5kg deadlift in the 82.5kg category. He has also played Rugby Union and Rugby 7’s for the Royal Marines and Rugby League for the Royal Navy.
During his military career, Adam has seen multiple deployments around the globe, including a tour of Afghanistan in 2010. However, over the last year or so he has been totally focussed on proving his aptitude on ice with the GB Bobsleigh Development squad. Throughout CV-19, Adam has been juggling work commitments at NCHQ and training intensely at Bath University and when at home in Yorkshire undergoing strict training regimes with along with his team mates and their Strength & Conditioning coaches to get them in to the best shape possible to prepare for the winter season ahead.
As the pilot of the Sled, Adam also has the responsibility to seek financial support for his team to compete on their first full season on the 2020/21 Europa Cup circuit in search of their quest to reach the 2022 Winter Olympics. No mean feat during these strange times of austerity and CV-19. He is however, determined to succeed and with the RN supporting his release to the Elite Athlete programme, he can now concentrate fully on seeking a place as a Pilot in the GB Olympic Bobsleigh Squad.