Mike Schultz

Three-Time U.S. Paralympic Snowboard Medalist, 10-Time X Games Gold Medalist

Adaptive Boardercross, Motocross, Snocross

Known in the racing community as “Monster” Mike, the 40-year-old from St. Cloud, MN has transformed the world of adaptive action sports in more ways than one. In 2008, Mike suffered a terrible knee injury during a snowmobile competition resulting in the amputation of his left leg above the knee. Shortly after his accident, Mike was back doing what he loves but the regular prosthetic wasn’t cutting it for the competitive, rigorous sports his body at one time couldn’t handle. Mike engineered a durable and versatile mechanical knee. Within seven months, Mike was again competing on the national stage at the ESPN X Games, receiving a silver medal in Adaptive Motocross. Ten years and eight X Games gold medals later, Mike founded BioDapt, Inc. after realizing the need for advancements in high impact adaptive sports prosthetics. This year, Mike added one of his biggest accomplishments to his list of honors and brought the U.S. a gold and a silver in snowboarding from the 2018 Winter Paralympics in Pyeongchang. Another equally great honor, Mike was voted as the U.S. flag bearer for the Paralympic Opening Ceremonies. Mike provided prosthetic equipment to 30 athletes from six different countries during the 2018 Games.

"It’s crazy where this road has taken me in the last several years. I’ve learned that you have to be willing to check out every opportunity that comes your way. Some opportunities won’t develop into anything, but some can change the course of your life in the best possible way."

Links

www.biodaptinc.com

www.monstermikeschultz.com

Special Recognition:

2014 - Ten Outstanding Young Americans Award presented by the United States Junior Chamber
2013 - “Versa Foot” Best of What’s New in 2013 by Popular Science
http://www.popsci.com/bown/2013/product/biodapt-versa-foot
2013 - “Versa Foot” Names one of the Top 10 Inventions of 2013 by Popular Science Magazine
www.popsci.com/technology/article/2013-04/medicine-firm-footing
2013 - Minnesota Jaycees Ten Outstanding Young American
2013 - Brainerd Jaycees Outstanding Young American
2011 to 2014 - Multiple Certificates of Appreciation from US Armed Forces – Troop Tours & Support
2010 - Athletes with Disabilities Hall of Fame - Roger McCarville Male Athlete of the Year Award

Racing Career Highlights:

2014 - ESPN Winter X Games Adaptive Snocross Gold Medalist
2013 - ESPN Summer X Adaptive Super-X Gold Medalist
2013 - ESPN Winter X Games Adaptive Snocross Gold Medalist
2012 - ESPN Adaptive X Games 5th Adaptive Boardercross
2011 - ESPN Winter X Games Adaptive Snocross Gold Medalist
2010 - ESPN Summer X Games Adaptive Super-X Gold Medalist
2010 - ESPN Winter X Games Adaptive Snocross Gold Medalist
2009 - ESPN Summer X Games Adaptive Super-X Silver Medalist
2009 to 2012 - Extremity Games Adaptive Motocross Gold & Silver Medalist
2009 - ISOC “True Grit Award”
2002 to 2008 - Competed in 6 ESPN Winter X-Games
2005 to 2008 - 5 National WPSA Pro podiums & Top 10 Season finishes in Pro 440 & Open
2008 - 6th place FIM World Championship in Mala, Sweden
2006 - 1st place in the Icelandic Championship Race
2006/2007 - Most Improved Pro (WPSA)
2002 - WSA MN Regional Racer of the Year

Social Media
Instagram - @monstermikeschultz - 11.9K
Facebook - @Mike Schultz - 4.1K
Twitter - @MonsterMike5- 1,937

GQ Sports - March 7, 2022

The One-Legged Snowboarder Who Built an Ingenious Prosthetic for Himself—and His Opponents

They called him Monster Mike. For the way he threw his sled around on the professional snowmobile circuit and muscled his dirt bike over motocross courses. Arms of steel, gut on fire. Unstoppable. Until that day in December 2008.

He was in Ironwood, Michigan, the second stop on the International Series of Champions tour, what they called the NASCAR of snowmobile racing. On a downhill stretch of the course, Schultz charged from the back of the field, gunning his machine to 40 miles per hour. Then he caught a hole. His snowmobile shimmied from side to side, kicked, and bucked him into the air. He slammed feet first, full force, into the packed snow, flipped, and landed on his back.

NBC - March 2, 2022

Meet the Athletes: Mike Schultz

Minnesota native Mike Schultz, known as "Monster Mike," won two medals – a gold and a silver – in his Paralympic debut at the 2018 PyeongChang Games. He got his start in the sport while working on prosthetics for fellow adaptive athletes. A snowmobiling crash in December 2008 resulted in an above-the-knee amputation of his left leg. Less than two years later, he founded his own prosthetics company, born out of tinkering around his garage during recovery. After success at both the X Games and Winter X Games, Schultz sought new challenges at the Paralympics.

Today - January 17, 2022

Paralympian Mike Schultz on engineering his own prosthetic leg

Gold and silver winning Paralympian Mike Schultz joins the 3rd Hour of TODAY to discuss his new book and the 2008 snowmobile accident that led to having his leg amputated. He reveals that he engineered his own prosthetic leg -- and made prosthetics for some of his competitors too.

Interview linked in article above...

Sports Illustrated- Oct 30, 2017

Q&A: Paralympic Snowboarder Mike Schultz Talks Leg Amputation, Prosthetics, and Olympic Dreams

Faced with a devastating injury that resulted in the amputation of his left leg, snowmobile racer Mike Schultz was at a crossroads in his life. He was an able-bodied competitor in 2008, but was thrown off his machine, leaving his leg grossly hyper extended. Schultz, who was known as "Monster Mike," thought his athletic career was over. But the thrill of racing and desire to compete again led the then 27-year-old to his garage, where he worked for weeks to build his own prosthetic leg. Schultz brought his competitive spirit and determination with him.