Schultz Sprints Home in Style to Olympic Marathon Gold!
Paralympic snowboarder Mike Schultz wins bronze in his final race at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, capping a career that transformed adaptive sports through innovation.
(I interviewed Mike Schultz on March 13th, 2026. His quotes are taken from the transcript of that interview. ) The start gate snapped open at the top of the hill on Friday, the 13th of March in Cortina d’ Ampezzo, Italy.
CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, ITALY - MARCH 13: Mike Schultz of United States competes during the Para Snowboard Men's Banked Slalom on day seven of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games at Cortina Para Snowboard Park on March 13, 2026 in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. (Photo by Marcus Hartmann/Getty Images) Getty Images Below, the banked slalom course twisted down the mountain in a series of icy berms and steep transitions. At the top stood Mike Schultz, 44 years old, preparing for what he knew could be the final competitive run of his life.
Nearly two decades earlier, a devastating snowmobile crash had cost Schultz his left leg above the knee. Now he was back on the world stage, racing athletes half his age at the 2026 Winter Paralympics. When the starter’s signal came, Schultz dropped into the course with the fearless style that earned him the nickname “Monster Mike.
” Seconds later, he crossed the finish line and looked up at the scoreboard. His name flashed into second place. “I knew I was locked in for a podium spot,” Schultz said afterward.
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