Monte Meier
Competition | 2011
Hometown: Hastings, Minnesota
Monte lost his right leg at the age of eight in a garden tiller accident. The first question he asked his parents after the accident was “Can I still run?” Their enthusiastic and positive response gave Monte the green light to pursue an active, vibrant life. In fact, the tenacious youngster was riding his bike only a week after leaving the hospital. Monte became enamored with the sport of ski racing after graduation from high school. He joined the ski racing team at Afton Alps and continued to spend the next 19 years racing, soon at the national and international level.
Monte was a three-track skier using one ski and two outrigger cuffs with skis. After winning three medals at the Canadian Nationals in 1992, he was named to the U.S. Disabled Alpine Ski Team for the first time in 1993. The 1994 Winter Paralympic Games in Lillehammer, Norway was Monte’s first big international competition and he won a bronze medal in the slalom. In Nagano, Japan at the 1998 Winter Games he won a gold in the Slalom and silver medal in the Giant Slalom. In 2002 at the Salt Lake City Games Monte earned a silver medal in the slalom event. Monte nearly decided to retire after the 2002 Paralympic Winter Games. But, feeling like he was still at the top of his game, Monte came back and competed, not only in his fourth Games in Torino, Italy in 2006 but in his fifth Winter Paralympics in 2010 in Vancouver, B.C.
As a five-time Paralympian and four-time Paralympic medalist, Monte had 19 years on the U.S. Disabled Alpine Ski Team. In addition to Paralympic medals, he accrued five World Championship medals; 14 World Cup Podiums; and 11 National Titles. Additionally, Monte was chosen as team captain in recognition of his natural leadership skills and being a role model for other adaptive athletes. In 2010, Monte carried the flag for the closing ceremonies of the Paralympics, a huge honor.
