Ken Kotyk
 Ken Kotyk during his Bobsled Career | ||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nationality | .svg.png){kind=small} Canadian | |||||||||||||||||
| Born | 7 February 1981 Canora, Saskatchewan, Canada | |||||||||||||||||
| Education | B.Sc. Kin/B.Ed. Physical Education and Science, University of Saskatchewan | |||||||||||||||||
| Occupation | Strength & Conditioning Coach | |||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) | |||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 96.16 kg (212.0 lb) | |||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||
| Country | Canada | |||||||||||||||||
| Sport |  Bobsleigh | |||||||||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | ||||||||||||||||||
| Olympic finals |  4th | |||||||||||||||||
Medal record
| ||||||||||||||||||
.svg.png){kind=icon}
.svg.png){kind=icon}
Kenneth Alfred Kotyk (born 7 February 1981) is a Canadian Olympic, World, and World Cup champion bobsledder who competed from 2003 to 2010. He was a brakeman for four-man bobsleigh, and resides in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Biography
Early Life & Education
Ken Kotyk grew up on his family farm 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. A full biography by Canadian Author Barb Howard is available on Ken's website.[1]
Bobsleigh Career (2003–2010)
- 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, Justin Kripps, and David Bissett[2]
Major Career Highlights
- Bronze medal, Four-man, FIBT World Championships 2005 (Calgary) – behind Germany's Lange and Russia[3] Also set the Canadian track record on the 2nd run alongside Lueders, Alexander & Brown
- 4th place, Four-man, 2006 Winter Olympics (Turin)
- Silver medal, Four-man, FIBT World Championships 2007 (St. Moritz), finishing just 0.23 seconds behind gold[4]
- Collected 12 Bobsleigh World Cup podiums, including wins in Königssee, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Calgary, Lake Placid and Park City in both 2006–07 & 2007–08 seasons [5]
Current Records Held
Holds the Canadian Bobsleigh Start Record at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Post-Competition Career & Personal Life
After retiring in 2010, Kotyk transitioned into coaching and entrepreneurship:
- Runs Kotyk Athletic Performance, a strength & conditioning business based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Served as the Head Trainer and Strength and Conditioning Coach at Calgary's MNP Community & Sport Centre
- Active on 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
- ^ "Ken Kotyk Age, Birthday, Zodiac Sign and Birth Chart". 2010-06-25. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
- ^ "2006–07 Bobsleigh World Cup", Wikipedia, 2025-06-03, retrieved 2025-07-10
- ^ "FIBT World Championships 2005", Wikipedia, 2025-06-28, retrieved 2025-07-10
- ^ "FIBT World Championships 2007", Wikipedia, 2024-12-14, retrieved 2025-07-10
- ^ "2006–07 Bobsleigh World Cup", Wikipedia, 2025-06-03, retrieved 2025-07-10
{{Short description|Biography}}