Adam supports Water Polo Canada's sentencing of Nathan Kotylak

Canadian water polo player, Nathan Kotylak, who was shown in some notorious images from the Vancouver Stanley Cup riot has been banned from the Canadian national team for two years. Kotylak was handed the suspension by Water Polo Canada's discipline panel, which means he will not compete at the 2012 Olympic Games.

Adam had argued against a permanent ban from water polo when Kotylak was originally named as a riot participant. He applauded the recently sentencing decision as fair.

"Nathan Kotylak's sentence will create a challenge for him but it's certainly not insurmountable,” Kreek told CBC News Tuesday. “If he has the skill and if Kotylak has the talents, he will become an athlete who can compete for Canada."

CBC News September 28, 2011

Adam Kreek's thoughts, 15 years later

Sport is more than just a game. It is a structured way to channel human energy, especially in young men, towards discipline, self-improvement, and cooperation. History has shown us that when sport is removed from communities, we don’t eliminate aggression, competitiveness, or the need for challenge—we simply redirect it, often towards destructive outlets. In fact, research consistently highlights that the highest crime rates in society come from men aged 18-25. A 2019 study from the U.S. Department of Justice found that men in this age bracket are responsible for the majority of violent crimes, a trend that holds true across various countries. Without a positive structure like sport, these young men are left without a vessel for their energy and ambition, increasing the likelihood of delinquent behaviour.

Done right, sport is a vessel for peace. It teaches cooperation, resilience, and respect for opponents. Nations have long used athletic competition as a way to build unity and prevent conflict. Look at the Olympic Truce, an ancient Greek tradition revived by the modern Olympic Games, where nations agreed to pause warfare to compete in sport. In communities, sports programs provide young men with role models, a sense of purpose, and an environment where they can learn to deal with setbacks in a healthy way. When sport is stripped away, as we see in underfunded schools or when athletes are permanently banned for mistakes, we don’t just remove competition—we remove guidance, mentorship, and a structured path to growth.

My values are rooted in growth, resilience, and redemption. I believe in second chances—not free passes but a path to learning and transformation. Sport shaped my character, teaching me discipline, teamwork, and the value of perseverance in the face of failure. I’ve seen firsthand how structured competition can turn raw energy into purpose, and I refuse to support a system that discards young men when they need guidance the most. We don’t build stronger individuals by punishing them away and bashing them into oblivion—we build stronger young men by challenging them to rise.

That’s why I supported a measured response in the case of Nathan Kotylak. His actions in the Vancouver Stanley Cup riot were wrong, and accountability is essential. But permanently banning him from water polo would have been a mistake. Young men make bad choices. It’s part of their development. The key is giving them a way to learn from those choices rather than throwing them away. A two-year suspension was fair—it held him accountable while leaving the door open for redemption. The best lessons in sport, and in life, come from failure. Those who are given the chance to recover and grow become stronger, wiser, and often, mentors for the next generation.

Sport is a lifeline. It is not just a pastime; it is a societal tool for reducing crime, building character, and fostering peace. When we eliminate it, we do more harm than good. If we want to build a safer and stronger society, we need more investment in sport—not less.

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Adam Kreek is on a mission to positively impact organizational cultures and leaders who make things happen.

Kreek is an Executive Business Coach who lives in Victoria, BC, near Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and Seattle, Washington, USA, in the Pacific Northwest. He works with clients globally, often travelling to California in the San Francisco Bay Area, Atlanta, Georgia, Toronto, Ontario and Montreal, Quebec. He is an Olympic Gold Medalist, a storied adventurer and a father.

He authored the bestselling business book, The Responsibility Ethic: 12 Strategies Exceptional People Use to Do the Work and Make Success Happen. 

Discover our thoughts on Values here.

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