Ken Kotyk
----Kenneth Kotyk
Born: 7 February 1981, Canora (Rama), Saskatchewan, Canada
Nationality: Canadian
Height / Weight: 1.83 m / ~88–98 kg{{Cite web |title=Olympedia – Ken Kotyk |url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/110989?utm_source=chatgpt.com |access-date=2025-07-10 |website=www.olympedia.org}}
Role: Bobsleigh push-athlete for Team Canada
Current Residence: Calgary, Alberta
Olympian: 2006 Winter Olympics Turin{{Cite web |date=2011-09-18 |title=Ken Kotyk |url=https://olympic.ca/team-canada/ken-kotyk/ |access-date=2025-07-10 |website=Team Canada - Official Olympic Team Website |language=en-US}}
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= Early Life & Education =
Ken Kotyk grew up in Rama, Saskatchewan (near Canora). He studied kinesiology and English at the University of Saskatchewan, where he participated in volleyball and track & field. This athletic foundation helped pivot him into bobsledding in 2003.{{Cite web |date=2010-06-25 |title=Ken Kotyk Age, Birthday, Zodiac Sign and Birth Chart |url=https://www.ask-oracle.com/birth-chart/ken-kotyk/ |access-date=2025-07-10 |language=en-US}}
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= Bobsleigh Career (2003–2007) =
- Debuted on the international season circuit in 2003–04.
- Became a key push-athlete alongside driver Pierre Lueders in the four-man sled, working with teammates like Morgan Alexander, Lascelles Brown, and David Bissett{{Citation |title=2006–07 Bobsleigh World Cup |date=2025-06-03 |work=Wikipedia |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2006%E2%80%9307_Bobsleigh_World_Cup&oldid=1293656816 |access-date=2025-07-10 |language=en}}
== Major Career Highlights ==
- Bronze medal, Four-man, FIBT World Championships 2005 (Calgary) – behind Germany's Lange and Russia{{Citation |title=FIBT World Championships 2005 |date=2025-06-28 |work=Wikipedia |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=FIBT_World_Championships_2005&oldid=1297808138 |access-date=2025-07-10 |language=en}}
- 4th place, Four-man, 2006 Winter Olympics (Turin); track record in the first run alongside Lueders, Alexander & Brown Olympics
- Silver medal, Four-man, FIBT World Championships 2007 (St. Moritz), finishing just 0.23 seconds behind gold{{Citation |title=FIBT World Championships 2007 |date=2024-12-14 |work=Wikipedia |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=FIBT_World_Championships_2007&oldid=1263079927 |access-date=2025-07-10 |language=en}}
- Collected multiple World Cup podiums, including wins in Königssee, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Calgary, Lake Placid and Park City in both 2006–07 & 2007–08 seasons {{Citation |title=2006–07 Bobsleigh World Cup |date=2025-06-03 |work=Wikipedia |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2006%E2%80%9307_Bobsleigh_World_Cup&oldid=1293656816 |access-date=2025-07-10 |language=en}}
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= Post-Competition Career & Personal Life =
After retiring in 2007, Kotyk transitioned into coaching and entrepreneurship:
- Runs Kotyk Athletic Performance, a strength & conditioning business.
- Served as the Head Trainer and Strength and Conditioning Coach at Calgary's [https://mnpcentre.com MNP Community & Sport Centre]
- Active on [https://www.instagram.com/kotykperformance/ Instagram] with posts highlighting recovery/mobility programs and athletic training
- Father of two daughters, balancing family life while giving back to the community through youth health and fitness initiatives .
In 2025, Kotyk launched a GoFundMe campaign aiming for a comeback at the 2026 Winter Olympics, underlining his ongoing passion for competition
References
{{Reflist}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20071211002351/http://sports123.com/bob/mw-4.html Bobsleigh four-man world championship medalists since 1930]
- [http://www.cbc.ca/olympics/athletes/athletesnamebio.shtml?ken_kotyk.html CBC.ca profile]
- [https://archive.today/20130204054758/http://www.sportresult.com/sports/bs/db/biography.asp?p_id=100066&nat=&sport=&sex=&season=&stat=&venue=&events= FIBT profile]
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Category:Bobsledders at the 2006 Winter Olympics
Category:Canadian male bobsledders
Category:Olympic bobsledders for Canada
Category:Sportspeople from Saskatchewan
Category:People from Rama, Saskatchewan
Category:Canadian people of Ukrainian descent
Category:21st-century Canadian sportsmen
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