As the Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 are now underway, Team Samsung Galaxy athlete and three-time Paralympic medalist Mike Schultz is competing at his final Paralympic Games as a professional snowboarder – representing not only his sport, but the spirit of innovation and resilience that defines the Paralympic Movement.
After a life-changing snowmobile accident in 2008 that resulted in the loss of his left leg, Schultz didn’t give up on his passion to race on the snow. Dissatisfied with existing prosthetics, he built his own durable and versatile mechanical knee that allowed him to endure the competitive and rigorous training and dominate the world of para-sports with historic records of winning a gold and two silver medals during PyeongChang and Beijing Winter Paralympics. He also started his company, BioDapt, giving other action-sport and high-impact athletes access to prosthetics specifically designed for the intensity of their sports, lowering the performance barrier for the para-athlete community.
Mike Schultz’s Victory Profile
Q: The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics is your third Paralympics, and perhaps your last Paralympic Games as a professional snowboarder. How do you feel?
A: Every Games has its own feel and motivation towards it. I have two goals while here. The first: I am very driven to work my way to another couple podium finishes. My strategy has been to find a good balance of progress and risk management to achieve my peak here at the Games, which has been working well so far, as I won my last World Cup before traveling here. Also, since this will be my last games, the other, broader goal is to appreciate every moment and experience of Milano Cortina 2026, win or lose.
Q: How does technology support your training and recovery? Were there any specific tools or devices that made a difference in your training or performance?
A: Technology isn’t separate from performance; it’s integrated into it. We record almost every run-through on my Galaxy Z Fold7 and review it immediately, often in slow motion, to analyze timing and execution. That immediate feedback loop helps refine details before the next session.
Recovery is also non-negotiable. I track sleep, recovery metrics, and training load to make smarter decisions about when to push and when to pull back. Tools like Galaxy Watch8 help me monitor everyday conditions so I can stay balanced through intense cycles.
Q: You’ve also inspired the world with your innovative “Moto Knee”. How did you come up with the idea of inventing your own prosthetics and where did you get the inspiration?
A: My second passion in life is building and creating things in my workshop. It was a natural response for me to design a better prosthetic leg after I realized there were very limited options available. I used all the experiences I accrued up to that point to solve this problem. I took knowledge from my previous jobs in metal fabrication, my understanding of body mechanics from physical training and all the time I spent working on the suspension components on my motocross bikes and race snowmobiles. I was kind of the perfect person to work on this project.
Mike Schultz competes during the Para Snowboard Men's Snowboard Cross SB-LL1at Cortina Para Snowboard Park on March 07, 2026 in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. (Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images)
Q: It’s not easy for an athlete to open up his own performance recipe to potential rivals. What was the motivation for you to disclose your prosthetic technology?
A: There are definitely moments when the “competitive athlete” in me questions this move, but I’m always thinking about the bigger picture working to progress whatever I’m involved in. Plus, it feels pretty good when you know you’re making a positive influence on the people around you.
Q: Mental training is important as much as physical training. How do you prepare mentally for each important competition?
A: Mental preparation starts long before arrival. Staying grounded and present is essential. Especially for global competitions like Paralympic Games, I try to focus on the snowboarding itself and the things related specifically to that. When I’m on snow, I always have a purpose. There is a lot of extra noise and distraction with all that goes with traveling with a team and training/competing that can pull at you in different ways. Another way I cope with this is to pull up my favorite playlist on my Galaxy Z Fold7, pop in my Galaxy Buds3 Pro, and return to my own world to calm my thoughts.
Q: Returning to competition just seven months after the accident is not something that one can imagine easily, especially when it includes winning a silver medal. How did you manage to recover, both physically and mentally, in such a short amount of time?
A: I guess I used my sport and the creation of my Moto Knee as a coping tool. I went through the typical physical recovery process that I’ve been through many times throughout my career, but of course this one was far more difficult both mentally and physically. I told myself early on that I was going to make something good come out of this bad situation. I put my energy into sport and recovery and focused on moving in a positive direction instead of focusing on the negative.
Mike Schultz is a Team Samsung Galaxy member for Milano Cortina 2026.
Q: You are also sharing your stories as a part of Team Samsung Galaxy, a group of athletes whose journey embodies “Openness.” What does “Openness” mean to you?
A: It’s always a plus when you partner with companies that align well with what you're doing. I’ve used Samsung mobile devices for several years and they are integrated into my daily life, my training and preparation for my sport. Openness, to me, means there are no limits to my thoughts and goals. I am always open-minded in sport, business and life. Anything is achievable if you’re motivated enough.
Q: You’ve announced that you will retire after Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics. What is your next “Monster Project?”
A: It’s hard to accept and say out loud that I’m retiring from snowboarding since it has been a huge priority in my life for the last 12 years. It has opened many opportunities in different ways. But this is the time for me to make a shift and put more effort into my company BioDapt and have the ability to spend more time at home with my family. I look forward to new innovations within the prosthetics we build and to have some time to actually take a real vacation!
Q: Any message you’d like to share with your fellow Paralympians and future athletes?
A: Dream big, work hard and enjoy the RIDE! The harder you work for something, the better it feels when you achieve what you set out to do.
Redefining What’s Possible
At Milano Cortina 2026, Mike Schultz represents more than athletic excellence. He represents resilience, ingenuity and the belief that with an open mind, anything is possible. Through engineering, performance and athlete-led storytelling, Schultz embodies the spirit of the Paralympic Movement – challenging perceptions, opening new perspectives and redefining what performance looks like, both on the mountain and beyond it.
