The Halifax native started sailing aged nine and racing at 12, initially as a windsurfer. He competed with eventual silver medallist Nick Dempsey for a spot on Team GB at London 2012.
Switching to kiteboarding, Bainbridge stepped away from the British Sailing Team to race professionally but returned after three years away when the discipline became Olympic.
He boosted hopes for the Games with a second-placed finish at the Olympic Test Event in Marseille, but narrowly missed out on qualification at the subsequent World Championships. Bainbridge won a quota place and confirmed his place on Team GB by winning the Last Chance Regatta in Hyeres, France.