Ricky Kotch

Connect What fuels your passion for health and fitness?

What fuels my passion for health & fitness? Survival turned to strength. I was broken—fear, loss, hospital bed, wondering if I’d ever truly provide for my wife and son without grinding my soul away. I had to be destroyed to rebuild unbreakable. Now every rep, every breath, every quiet morning is gratitude in motion. I train to stay calm, strong, present—for Joey to see what resilience looks like, for Jess to feel safe, for myself to live the comeback. Fitness isn’t vanity. It’s love made muscle

What’s your favorite way to train or stay fit?

It keeps me strong for my son, calm for my wife, and grounded in gratitude. Fitness isn’t about looking good—it’s about feeling unbreakable after life tried to shatter me. I follow traditional exercise routines, but with no functional pancreas and as a type 2 diabetic using an insulin pump, nutrition is absolutely critical. Balancing my diet, fitness, and health conditions requires discipline, but it's become a cornerstone of my lifestyle and my continued progress.

What would you do with $20,000?

If I win, every dollar goes toward our move to Georgia where my brother parks forever, nieces run wild, my wife laughs from the kitchen island, and Joey (and future grandkids) grow up with family close, docks, boats, sunsets, no more goodbyes. This isn’t about money. It’s healing separation, living simple, and keeping the people I love near. I’ve been broken and rebuilt for this. Grateful beyond words.