Impairment Information |
Type of Impairment |
Limb deficiency |
Origin of Impairment |
Acquired |
Classification |
SB-LL1 |
Further Personal Information |
Family |
Wife Sara, daughter Lauren [2013] |
Residence |
Saint Cloud, MN, USA |
Occupation |
Athlete, Business Owner, Motivational Speaker |
Languages |
English |
Sport Specific Information |
When and where did you begin this sport? |
He began snowboarding in 2009. |
Why this sport? |
He initially tried snowboard to test his prosthetic knee outside of motor sports. "Being able to go to the top of the mountain and just carve your way down and be dead tired by the time you get to the bottom is pretty amazing." |
Senior International Debut |
Year |
2014 |
Competing for |
United States |
Tournament |
World Cup |
Location |
Landgraaf, NED |
General Interest |
Nicknames |
Monster (medgadget.com, 23 Jan 2020) |
Hobbies |
Motocross, snowmobiling, mountain biking, horseback riding, skiing, snow biking, working in his shop. (teamusa.org, 28 Nov 2018) |
Memorable sporting achievement |
Winning a gold medal in snowboard cross at the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang. (pyeongchang2018.com, 12 Mar 2018) |
Injuries |
He shattered his right heel during his adaptive boardercross semifinal at the 2015 Winter X Games in Aspen, CO, United States of America. He underwent surgery and was unable to participate in high intensity activity for six months. (paralympic.org, 19 Oct 2015; denverpost.com, 23 Jan 2015) |
Sporting philosophy / motto |
"Only you choose your limitations." (Facebook profile, 05 Feb 2018) |
Awards and honours |
He was named Best Male Athlete with a Disability at the 2018 Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly [ESPY] Awards. (teamusa.org, 27 Dec 2018)
He was flag bearer for the United States of America at the opening ceremony of the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang. (nbcolympics.com, 07 Mar 2018)
In 2010 he was inducted into the Athletes with Disabilities Network [ADN] Hall of Fame in United States of America. He also received the organisation's Roger McCarville Male Athlete of the Year award. (oandp.com, 01 Nov 2010) |
Other sports |
Before his accident he was a professional snocross racer. He has won gold medals in adaptive motocross at the X Games and adaptive snocross and adaptive snow bikecross at the Winter X Games. (tricountynews.mn, 20 Feb 2019; ridefox.com, 01 Jan 2014) |
Milestones |
In 2010 he became the first person to win a gold medal at both the X Games and Winter X Games in the same year in different sports when he was victorious in adaptive motocross and adaptive snocross. (ridefox.com, 01 Jan 2014) |
Impairment |
In December 2008 he was competing in a snocross race when his snowmobile drifted sideways as he jumped over a mogul and landed on his left leg. He suffered a severe compound fracture to his knee, and after multiple operations the limb was amputated above the knee. (denverpost.com, 23 Jan 2015; monstermikeschultz.com, 01 Jan 2014; ridefox.com, 01 Jan 2014) |
Other information |
OTHER ACTIVITIES
He has served as a member of the borders commission of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee [USOPC]. (teamusa.org, 18 Aug 2020)
BUSINESS OWNER
In 2010 he founded BioDapt, a company producing high impact adaptive sports prosthetics. His products include the Moto Knee, which he uses himself, and Versa Foot. "Now, we've got a few hundred athletes and veterans using our product, as well as the majority of the US Paralympic snowboarding team. It's really rewarding to see these guys test our stuff to the limit in these events. It kind of shows, our products can withstand anything." (Facebook page, 25 Dec 2020; Facebook profile, 11 Dec 2020; medgadget.com, 23 Jan 2020; LinkedIn profile, 01 Jan 2019; si.com, 30 Oct 2017) |
World Championships |
| Rank |
Year |
Event |
Result |
| 4 |
2016/2017 |
Snowboard Cross - Lower Limb 1 Impaired |
|
| 2 |
2016/2017 |
Banked Slalom - Lower Limb 1 Impaired |
1:15.81 |
| 1 |
2018/2019 |
Banked Slalom - Lower Limb 1 Impaired |
50.63 |
| 3 |
2018/2019 |
Snowboard Cross - Lower Limb 1 Impaired |
|
| 4 |
2018/2019 |
Snowboard Cross Team Event |
|
Paralympic Games |
| Rank |
Year |
Event |
Result |
| 1 |
2018 |
Snowboard Cross - Lower Limb 1 Impaired |
|
| 2 |
2018 |
Banked Slalom - Lower Limb 1 Impaired |
53.42 |
World Cup Finals |
| Rank |
Year |
Event |
Result |
| 3 |
2016/2017 |
Banked Slalom - Lower Limb 1 Impaired |
|
| 1 |
2017/2018 |
Snowboard Cross - Lower Limb 1 Impaired |
1:09.32 |
| 1 |
2017/2018 |
Banked Slalom - Lower Limb 1 Impaired |
1:18.37 |
