Mike Schultz Takes Silver in Italy, Preparing for 2022 Games

(KNSI) – A St. Cloud paralympic champion brought home a silver medal in his first international competition in a year.

Snowboarder Mike Schultz (also known as Monster Mike) recently returned from Italy after taking second and fourth place in snowboard cross.

“I was excited to put the red, white, and blue jersey on and compete for Team USA. Quite amazing.”

The races were held last week.

Mike Schultz

Schultz says due to COVID, he hasn’t been competing much, but he’s still been practicing at home.

“I’ve done a ton of training here in Minnesota at my home hill right in our backyard, Powder Ridge. It’s obviously not a big mountain like most of my competitors are training on but, we’re able to set up some training courses and get valuable training.”

The 36-year-old spent a lot of time in the gym and Colorado to train over the last year.

The paralympic snowboarder suffered a terrible knee injury during a snowmobile competition in 2008. His left leg had to be amputated above the knee.

Shortly after his accident, Schultz was back doing what he loves, but regular prosthetics weren’t cutting it for competitive, rigorous sports.

Schultz engineered a durable and versatile mechanical knee and, in 2010, started the company BioDapt.

Now his competition can use the equipment. All four competitors in the finals in Italy were using BioDapt prosthetics designed by Schultz.

KNSI News wanted to know how he felt selling to the competition.

“I knew it was just a matter of time before somebody would finish that line before me on my own equipment and me as a competitor. It’s a little harsh, honestly, but, you know, me as a businessman and an innovator, you know, I’m thinking bigger than myself in this whole program, and I honestly can say that it’s extremely rewarding.”

The snowboarding star says he’s now focusing on getting ready for the Paralympic games in February of 2022 in Bejing, China.

Schultz says nothing compares to that level of competition.

“I’ve had a lot of success in different competitions in different platforms like the X Games, but nothing compares to being part of that team USA on the world stage at the Paralympic Games. It really is an amazing feeling.”

In 2018, Schultz won the gold medal in Snowboard cross and the silver medal in banked slalom.

For about Schultz’s career, click here.

For more about BioDapt prosthetics, click here.

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