The Tribune

By DR KENT L BAZARD

I RECENTLY returned from the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China, where I had the privilege of serving as team physician for our national track and field team. It was an unforgettable experience, not just because of the level of competition, but also because of what I observed about China’s approach to sports development.

China is one of the few countries that competes at a high level in nearly every Olympic sport. Whether it’s track and field, weightlifting, gymnastics, diving, or table tennis, they have built an athletic machine that consistently produces world-class athletes. It made me wonder, how does a country develop such a deep, diverse, and competitive sporting system, and what lessons can The Bahamas take from it?

Systematic Long-Term 

Sports Development

One of the key reasons for China’s success is its structured approach to talent identification and athlete development. From a young age, promising athletes are scouted and placed into specialised sports programmes where they receive consistent coaching, competition exposure, and a clear pathway from junior to elite levels. The government plays a major role in supporting these programmes, ensuring that young athletes aren’t left to figure things out on their own. 

In The Bahamas, we have raw talent in abundance. Athletes like Devynne Charlton, our 2025 60m hurdles world champion, have shown that with the right support, we can compete at the highest levels. However, our system remains informal, and many athletes don’t receive structured guidance until much later in their careers. Imagine if we had an early pipeline for all our young sporting talents - not just in track and field, but in other disciplines as well.

Investment in Facilities & 

Coaching

China’s sports dominance isn’t just about hard work—it’s about smart investment. Their athletes train in world-class high-performance centres equipped with cutting-edge technology. Sports science plays a massive role in their development, with biomechanics, nutrition, recovery protocols, and mental training all seamlessly integrated into daily preparation.

In contrast, many Bahamian athletes train in subpar conditions, often relying on outdated equipment and limited resources. Even though we have produced world champions and Olympic medallists, we are not maximising our full potential due to lack of investment in infrastructure. If we are serious about doubling our success on the global stage, we need to develop better training facilities and ensure our athletes have access to top-tier coaching and sports science resources.

Holistic Athlete 

Development & Sports 

Science Integration

A crucial difference between China’s approach and ours is the scientific precision in their training. Every aspect of an athlete’s preparation is monitored, measured, and optimised - from recovery strategies to individualised nutrition plans. They recognise that an athlete’s long-term success depends on more than just talent and hard work - it requires staying injury-free, optimising energy output, and continuously improving performance metrics.

For Bahamian athletes, injuries and burnout remain a huge concern. Too often, talented young athletes get sidelined by preventable injuries because their training load isn’t properly managed or their recovery protocols aren’t adequate. We must integrate better sports science into our national training programs, providing athletes with access to injury prevention strategies, proper recovery methods, and nutritional education to ensure longevity in their careers.

Cultural Mindset: 

Celebrating Athletes 

as National Heroes

One of the most powerful things I witnessed in China was how they celebrate their athletes. 

National champions are treated as heroes, with the same level of respect, admiration and support that we often reserve for musicians, politicians, or business leaders. 

This celebration isn’t just about pride - it’s about sustainability.

China ensures that its greatest athletes remain connected to the system, whether as coaches, mentors or sports ambassadors. They pour back into the community, ensuring that the next generation benefits from their knowledge, experience and inspiration. This keeps their sports ecosystem strong and continually evolving.

In The Bahamas, we celebrate our champions in the moment - but then what? How often do we see our former elite athletes integrated into structured development roles for the next generation? 

If we are to create a lasting culture of sports excellence, we must find ways to keep our sporting legends involved in training, mentorship and administration.

Diversification 

of Sports 

Development

One of the most striking observations from my time in China was the wide range of sports in which they excel. Unlike many smaller nations that focus on one or two sports, China invests in multiple disciplines, ensuring that their talent pool is not limited to just a few events.

In The Bahamas, track and field and swimming dominate the sports scene, but we have the potential to excel in so much more. With our natural athleticism and raw power, we could develop world-class athletes in weightlifting, rowing, gymnastics and combat sports. 

Expanding our focus beyond the traditional sports will give more athletes opportunities to find their niche and thrive on the global stage.

The Road Ahead for 

Bahamian Sports

With athletes like Devynne Charlton, Steven Gardiner, and Shaunae Miller-Uibo, we’ve proven that we can be the best in the world. But what if we could double our output of world champions? The talent is here - the only thing missing is a structured system to fully develop and sustain it.

China’s blueprint shows that long-term planning, investment and a national commitment to sports development can transform a country into a global powerhouse. 

If The Bahamas wants to consistently produce elite athletes across multiple sports, we must take a more structured, scientific and holistic approach to sports development.

We don’t need to be China - but we can certainly learn from their success and carve out our own path to sporting excellence.

• Dr Kent Bazard, sports medicine physician at Empire Sports Medicine, specializes in ensuring athletes reach their peak performance safely. With extensive experience and a passion for sports health, Dr. Bazard provides insights and guidance for athletes of all ages - men and women.