As a businessman and ex-Tour de France cyclist, Baden Cooke could have easily qualified for the Brawn tribe on Australian Survivor.
WATCH BELOW: Australian Survivor 2021: Baden’s Backstory
So why did he go for the Brains tribe? Well, according to his official Survivor bio, Baden has a strategic mind and is a pro at convincing others to do the dirty work for him.
This skill is something he developed while playing poker at a high level, which will no doubt be a massive asset when it comes to playing the game.
But it’s Baden’s experience as a cyclist that makes him perfect for the Brains tribe, and we’re not talking about the physical aspect of the sport.
When Baden was just 23-years-old, he won the green jersey in the 2003 Tour de France, and has won over 50 races.
His impressive rap sheet doesn’t end there, where he did the Tour de France six times, the Olympics in Athens and also the Commonwealth Games.
“To ride at a top level you have to be mentally tough, and be able to suffer,” Baden told Channel Ten.
When it comes to uncomfortable circumstances of Survivor, Baden said nothing will be as uncomfortable as what he’s been through in the past
“You basically have to make a million little decisions that could risk your life,” he said, referring to his cycling days.
It was those instant decisions he had to make while riding that really heightened his critical thinking, and it was also the “extreme” training that pushed him both physically and mentally.
“Being on the brains team, I think I’ll bring a different element into it,” the Olympian said. “Not me trying to be the biggest brain in the house, but I’ll be the most cunning brain in the house.”
Outside of the show, Baden is a proud dad to two beautiful girls, and is the sales director at a cybersecurity firm, Hamilton Cooke.
Despite heading into the world of business, Baden hasn’t given up cycling, where his Instagram is filled with shots of him out riding with gorgeous landscapes as a backdrop.
He’s even shared adorable snaps of him teaching his kids how to ride, and they might just take after their dad in the sport.
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