Ken Kotyk

Kenneth Alfred Kotyk, OLY 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 and education

Ken Kotyk grew up on his family farm in Rama, Saskatchewan.
He studied Kinesiology and Physical Education at the University of Saskatchewan, where he participated in volleyball and track & field. This athletic foundation helped pivot him into bobsledding in 2003.

Bobsleigh career (2003–2010)

Kotyk debuted on the international season circuit in 2003–04. He became a key push-athlete alongside driver Pierre Lueders in the four-man sled, working with teammates including Florian Linder, Marty Robertson, Giulio Zardo, Morgan Alexander, Lascelles Brown, Justin Kripps, and David Bissett.

Major career highlights

Bronze medal, four-man, FIBT World Championships 2005 – behind Germany's Lange and Russia 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, finishing just 0.23 seconds behind gold
Collected 12 Bobsleigh World Cup champions|Bobsleigh World Cup] podiums, including wins in Königssee, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Calgary, Lake Placid and Park City in the 2006–07 & 2007–08 seasons
OLY Certificate of Recognition from the World Olympians Association

Current records held

Kotyk holds the Canadian bobsleigh start record, set at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary.

Post-competition career and personal life

After retiring in 2010, Kotyk transitioned into coaching and entrepreneurship. He runs Kotyk Athletic Performance, a strength and conditioning business based in Calgary. He served as the head trainer and strength and conditioning coach at Calgary's MNP Community and Sport Centre.He has been nominated in 2020, 2022, and 2026 for Canada's Top Fitness Trainers by Impact Magazine.
In 2025, Kotyk launched a GoFundMe campaign aiming for a comeback at the 2026 Winter Olympics, underlining his ongoing passion for competition.
He is the father of two daughters.
Ken Kotyk was featured in the National Post article "The Enhanced Games' juiced plan to smash the Olympics and raise super-athletes" Published Sep 04, 2025.
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