Christopher Bates
CEO / President
About Me:
Education & Training
Born as the son of a nurse and a therapist, and at the intersection of two powerful legacies — one steeped in dignity, education, and leadership, the other defined by resilience, grit, and survival — I live my life as a follower of the way, the truth, and the life, as a leader, and as a human performance practitioner. I’ve served athletes from the inner city to the Olympic stage, and my roots compel me to confront the inequities I once witnessed firsthand and to ensure that no young athlete is left unseen, unprotected, or unsupported simply because of where they come from.
What is your WHY?
Because there are significant gaps in healthcare, safety, and opportunity that persist for young athletes in under-resourced communities, I challenge, coach, and grant access to the people, places, and platforms that will foster these young athletes and their communities to flourish.
Where are you from? What is your ethnic background?
I don’t bang, but I’m from Lynwood, California. Born and raised. God made me with the raw materials of the West Coast, and I wear that with pride. Ethnically, I don’t know the precise details of my DNA —an unfortunate reality many share —but my folks come from Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. Nationally, I am a recovering American… unlearning the beliefs that my country instilled in me about myself and others who look like me and come from similar backgrounds. I identify as a Black American, and I navigate the world with this truth at the forefront.
Who are your top 5?
It has changed a bit through the years but…
Pac, Quik, Lauryn Hill, Jay, Kendrick
Track Record
C. Bates has spent over two decades enhancing athletic and human performance across various sectors, from youth community centers to Olympic competition. His career is marked by building infrastructure, elevating standards, and mobilizing diverse teams to support athletes and high-performing humans holistically
As a visionary program architect, he launched the first strength and conditioning program at California Baptist University and shaped its athlete performance center, still thriving 15 years later. In his roles with USA Water Polo’s Men’s Olympic Team, he directs a multidisciplinary sports medicine and human performance team focused on achieving world and Olympic success.
As the Co-Founder and CEO of AT LAST, Bates promotes equity in sports medicine. He began his career shortly after graduating from college in Compton, focusing on youth and community sports and well-being programs, and now offers sports medicine services and performance coaching in the private and public sectors. His track record embodies equitable access and transformative opportunities for as many as possible.
Christopher Bates, ATC, RSCC
Co-founder/CEO/President