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St. Cloud's Mike Schultz is getting ready for the 2026 Milan Paralympic Games next month, representing the United States in para snowboarding. U.S. Ski & Snowboard on Feb. 24 announced it nominated Schultz as one of the 32 ski and snowboard athletes to represent the country in this year's games.
"The athletes were selected to Team USA based on pre-determined Paralympic Winter Games criteria set by U.S. Ski & Snowboard and will be officially announced to Team USA on Mar. 2, 2026," U.S. Ski and Snowboard wrote in a statement.
Schultz is a graduate of Kimball Area High School, according to Team USA. He also attended the Paralympics in 2018 and 2022. He received a gold and silver medal during the the 2018 games in Pyeongchang and silver during the 2022 games in Beijing.
"I have enjoyed this incredible Paralympic journey for the last 12 years and competing in pro level competition in multiple sports over the past 28 years,” Schultz wrote in a statement.
This will also be Schultz's last Paralympics games, as Schultz announced his retirement in a Feb. 24 Instagram post.
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"It's about that time to turn the page and announce my official retirement from Paralympics snowboarding," Schultz said in Tuesday's post.
Schultz competed in the Paralympics after he was injured in 2008 during a snowmobile competition, according to a release. He underwent an amputation on his left leg above the knee. The athlete returned to racing with a mechanical knee and foot system that Schultz engineered himself, allowing him to participate in snowboarding and other high-impact sports, like motocross.
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His engineering led to the launch of BioDapt, Inc. two years later, according to a release. The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development states Schultz launched BioDapt in April 2010 and is currently headquartered in St. Cloud. The company offers a number of prosthetic products, including feet and legs.
BioDapt's products are used by "about 95% of the top Paralympic lower-limb snowboard athletes," according to Team USA.
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Schultz is slated to compete in the snowboarding boardercross competition on March 7 and 8, as well as the snowboarding banked slalom on March 14. The 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Paralympics will be broadcast on NBCUniversal, Peacock, USA Network and CNBC, according to a release.
In retirement from the games, Schultz said, he wants to focus on family.
"I am also excited to take a real vacation with my family and not be attached to an event somewhere," Schultz wrote in a statement. "I am beyond grateful to my snowboard team, my second family, whom I’ve gotten to experience the world with in a sport we love.”
Corey Schmidt covers politics and public safety for the St. Cloud Times. He can be reached at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on St. Cloud Times: St. Cloud's Mike Schultz readies for final Paralympics journey
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"The athletes were selected to Team USA based on pre-determined Paralympic Winter Games criteria set by U.S. Ski & Snowboard and will be officially announced to Team USA on Mar. 2, 2026," U.S. Ski and Snowboard wrote in a statement.
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Schultz is a graduate of Kimball Area High School, according to Team USA. He also attended the Paralympics in 2018 and 2022. He received a gold and silver medal during the the 2018 games in Pyeongchang and silver during the 2022 games in Beijing.
"I have enjoyed this incredible Paralympic journey for the last 12 years and competing in pro level competition in multiple sports over the past 28 years,” Schultz wrote in a statement.
This will also be Schultz's last Paralympics games, as Schultz announced his retirement in a Feb. 24 Instagram post.
Election news: Meet the Republican who is running against Emmer for U.S. House
"It's about that time to turn the page and announce my official retirement from Paralympics snowboarding," Schultz said in Tuesday's post.
Schultz competed in the Paralympics after he was injured in 2008 during a snowmobile competition, according to a release. He underwent an amputation on his left leg above the knee. The athlete returned to racing with a mechanical knee and foot system that Schultz engineered himself, allowing him to participate in snowboarding and other high-impact sports, like motocross.
More: Passions for macarons, gift wrapping inspire new St. Cloud store
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His engineering led to the launch of BioDapt, Inc. two years later, according to a release. The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development states Schultz launched BioDapt in April 2010 and is currently headquartered in St. Cloud. The company offers a number of prosthetic products, including feet and legs.
BioDapt's products are used by "about 95% of the top Paralympic lower-limb snowboard athletes," according to Team USA.
More: How a Paynesville game shop became a central Minnesota community hub
Schultz is slated to compete in the snowboarding boardercross competition on March 7 and 8, as well as the snowboarding banked slalom on March 14. The 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Paralympics will be broadcast on NBCUniversal, Peacock, USA Network and CNBC, according to a release.
In retirement from the games, Schultz said, he wants to focus on family.
"I am also excited to take a real vacation with my family and not be attached to an event somewhere," Schultz wrote in a statement. "I am beyond grateful to my snowboard team, my second family, whom I’ve gotten to experience the world with in a sport we love.”
Corey Schmidt covers politics and public safety for the St. Cloud Times. He can be reached at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on St. Cloud Times: St. Cloud's Mike Schultz readies for final Paralympics journey
Continue reading...
