BIO
Alex Kopacz, a London, Ontario native, began his athletic career as a shot putter at University of Western Ontario. Encouraged by his coaches, he attended a talent camp for bobsleigh athletes in 2013 and began racing on the North American circuit. In his pursuit for excellence he moved to Germany to train with a 2x Olympic champion in bobsleigh, Olaf Hampel, to take his skills to the next level. In 2018, he and his pilot won a gold medal in the two-man bobsleigh event at the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. He won 10 world cup medals and a crystal globe for the overall season, and still holds the start record in Altenberg, Germany. He overcame injuries and mental health challenges, and founded Step Sciences, a medical device company. Alex also coached several Olympic athletes and survived a severe bout of COVID-19. His journey to becoming an Olympic champion required risk-taking, bravery, decisiveness, and a relentless drive to pursue his goals.
Steer Your Way to Success
During the summer of 2016, I was ready to take on the bobsleigh world and break records. However, just a week before his trip to Calgary, I tore my adductor. Despite the injury, I was forced into team testing and inspite of it, still earned the top spot. Unfortunately, the injury worsened, forcing me to leave the team for most of the year. The pain and depression were unbearable, and I wondered if I would ever compete at a high level again. But my coach believed in me and gave me the courage to keep training and push through the pain of recovery. The year before the olympics is so critical, and being present on the team influences the coaches decisions for the olympic year, I was terrified that my chance was gone. Eventually, I was able to rejoin the team for the 2017 World Championships. It was a tough road, but my resilience and determination paid off. I went on to set records, win more medals and eventually a gold at the 2018 Winter Olympics.
After my first year in bobsleigh, I knew I needed to find a coach who would work personally with me. I took a chance and moved to Germany to work with a stranger, Olaf Hampel. We trained 1 on 1, 2x a day, 6 days a week in the alps. I learned how far I could push my body, how quickly I could learn new languages, and how important family bonds can be. The Hampel family made me feel like one of their own.
This transformational experience changed my life forever.
By booking me as a speaker, people/teams/organizations will be transformed through my inspiring and motivating story of perseverance and triumph. I share insights on risk-taking, decision-making, critical thinking, creativity and resilience, drawing from my experiences in athletics, engineering, and entrepreneurship. I excel at applying these concepts and helping audiences see how they can benefit in their own pursuits. My talks offer hope, passion, and clear direction, inspiring people to think about new possibilities and pursue their goals with determination.