By Jean Doran Matua, Editor
Last week marked the 13th anniversary of professional athlete Mike Schultz becoming a lower-leg amputee after a horrible snowmobile racing accident. As horrific and devastating as that time was, Schultz has more than overcome adversity; he has turned it into something that has put him on top of the world, in more ways than one.
Named to the Team U.S.A. Paralympic team in September, Schultz has been in training both in the U.S. and in Europe. The 2021-22 world-level competitive season is fully under way, and Schultz spent this past weekend competing to qualify for the Paralympics in Beijing Feb. 4-20.
Nov. 29 was the first World Cup competition of the season, and Schultz earned an exciting silver. The field is tight again this year, and the challenge is part of what drives Schultz to excel.
This past weekend, Schultz placed fourth on day 1 in Banked Slalom in Austria, with a mere 4 seconds between the top four competitors.
Through all the training and competitions over these past years, Schultz has also continued to design and build custom athletic legs – his OrthoFoot and MotoKnee – for athletes (including several of his worldwide competitors) and for other amputees who want to continue their active lives. Even in the midst of competing during the 2020 Paralympics, he was repairing and adjusting his BioDapt prosthetics for his teammates and competitors alike.
When not training or competing, Schultz skis, waterskis, rides horse, and enjoys a very active life with his wife and daughter who is developing an athletic career of her own.
As if that’s not enough on his plate, Schultz’s autobiography comes out next month, co-written with writer Matt Higgins.
We’ve learned to expect big things from “Monster” Mike, and yet he always manages to surprise us and exceed our expectations. Go, Mike!