Empowering Innovation: The Inspiring Journey of “Monster” Mike Schultz in Prosthetic Design, Athletic Achievement

In a life-altering moment 16 years ago, former world-class motocross racer “Monster” Mike Schultz faced a devastating accident while racing a high-performance snowmobile in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, resulting in the amputation of his left leg.

“When my injury happened...it was a gut punch for sure,” Schultz said. “Being at the top of my professional racing career and then the doctors saying, you know, I’m going to become an amputee was quite difficult, to say the least.”

Determined and resilient, Schultz took his snowmobile out to get some fresh air, and after that ride, he said he realized that “[riding] is something that’s so deep in my blood, whether it be dirt bikes or snowmobiles that, you know, I'll figure out a way.”

Over the next couple of months, Schultz said he did a lot of research on prosthetics and what was available. “And there's just not many options for high-impact sports,” he said. “Now, there’s a lot of options for everyday use—walking, jogging, some running—but...not equipment that would take the beating of...riding rough terrain.”

Collaborating with Protolabs, Schultz was able to forever change prosthetic design, offering advanced solutions tailor-made for athletes of all levels and for high-impact sports. Through relentless dedication and ingenuity, Schultz's company, BioDapt, continues to pioneer prosthetic technology, enhancing athletic performance and transforming the future of prosthetics for individuals everywhere.

Watch additional parts of this interview series with Mike Schultz:

• Part 2: High-Performance Prosthetics for Action Sports
• Part 3: Transforming Prosthetics: The Nexus of Technology and Athletic Performance