When Adam Kreek speaks, people listen.
Flashing his 2008 Olympic gold medal from Beijing tends to capture peoples’ attention before he even utters a word. In fact, the London, Ont. native, who now calls Victoria home, has a boatload of medals from his days with the Canadian men’s eight in rowing from World Championships and World Cups since 2002.
But the focus of his public speaking appearances isn’t a regurgitation of his personal athletic career. Kreek Speak is a new and invigorating perspective on success, achievement, health and fulfillment, according to his web site.
Kreek, who turns 31 today (Dec. 2), has gone into professional keynote speaking at functions since the Olympics. But he’s never forgotten his roots and still makes provisions to deliver inspirational messages to children through the Esteem Team.
“I have maintained a relationship with the Esteem Team,’’ said Kreek. “I told them, ‘I’ll speak at schools once a month on their behalf.’’’
He made one such appearance at Tansor Elementary School last week and left the kids spellbound.
“I have been trying to raise the profile of Tansor Elementary in a more positive light and Adam did a great job of reinforcing our goal setting, positive choices and behaviours as foundations for positive change,’’ noted Tansor principal Joseph Boudreau.
Kreek said he was happy to support Boudreau with his goals of creating a more positive image for Tansor. “He’s taken the onus upon himself to build a stronger culture within that school.’
Back in 2002 while starting a six-year run of gold medal rowing moments, Kreek hooked up with the Esteem Team and started visiting elementary schools.
Everything accelerated on the professional side after 2008.
“Winning the gold medal is something interesting people wanted to hear about,’’ Kreek said.
Doing speaking engagements while touring the country has been an interesting experience
“I really do enjoy it,’’ Kreek said. “At first, there were some challenges. The biggest challenge was feeling I was worthy of being up there. I eventually realized (the medal) was a real good tool to break the ice. It ends up being a very powerful metaphor for individuals.’’
With the kids, “I can tell from the moment I walk into a school if it will be a school that will hear and embrace my message,’’ he said.
Kreek maintains he isn’t keen to talk about himself, but rather about the lessons he learned and how to apply them to teach values and skills to other people.
He’s a big believer in the Waldorf philosophy where the first seven years are important for physical capabilities, the next seven for emotional development and the following seven for intellectual advancement
As examples of that trend, “I’ll bring in a lot of stories from my youth,’’ Kreek said.
One thing he’s discovered in his travels to schools is how the adult administration makes all the difference.
“I’ve been to schools in the worst parts of Canada,’’ Kreek said. “These schools run without a hitch because the administrators take their role seriously. The kids thrive.’’
