Patrick Mayrhofer

Patrick Mayrhofer (born 15 September 1987)^[1] is Austria's most successful Paralympic Snowboarder.^[1] He won Silver in the Banked Slalom at the 2018 Winter Paralympics in PyeongChang, South Korea, Gold in the Banked Slalom at the 2015 World Para Snowboard World Championships in La Molina, Spain, and Silver in the Banked Slalom at the 2019 World Para Snowboard World Championships in Pyhä, Finland. In 2015 he was honored as the Paralympic Austrian Sports Personality of the Year (German: Behindertensportler des Jahres).^[2]

Patrick Mayrhofer

Personal information
Nationality	Austrian
Born	(1987-09-15) 15 September 1987 (age 37) Helfenberg, Upper Austria
Years active	6
Height	173 cm (5 ft 8 in)
Weight	65 kg (143 lb)
Website	Patrick Mayrhofer on Facebook
Sport
Sport	Snowboarding
Disability class	SB-UL
Event(s)	Snowboard Cross, Banked Slalom
Coached by	Jean-Claude Keipes, Mario Ratz
Medal record Men's para snowboarding Representing  Austria Winter Paralympic Games 2018 PyeongChang Banked slalom SB-UL World Championships 2019 Pyhä Banked slalom SB-UL 2015 La Molina Banked slalom SB-UL

Biography

Born in Helfenberg, Upper Austria in 1987,^[2] Mayrhofer had been snowboarding since childhood.^[1] He worked as an electrician until an accident in February 2008, when he guiltless touched a 6000-volt power line, causing serious injury on his right upper leg, left forearm and right hand. On his right hand the thumb and parts of the middle finger needs to be amputated. After several unsuccessful attempts to reconstruct the function of his left hand Mayrhofer decides to amputate his left hand. His surgeon Dr. Oskar Aszmann from the University of Vienna worked close together with the prosthesis technology company Ottobock. So Mayrhofer became the first patient in the world to undergo elective amputation. His left hand was amputated around 17 cm (6.7 inches) below the elbow in July 2010.^[1] After this, he was fitted with a groundbreaking prosthesis, known as a "Michelangelo Hand",^[3][4] The elective amputation allows Mayrhofer to control the prosthesis in the same way as non-amputees do:^[5] EMG electrodes in the prosthesis detect muscle signals within the lower arm which can be used for prosthesis control.^[3] He can open bottles, tie shoelaces and brush his teeth within a short period of time.^[1][5] After the amputation, he worked closely with Ottobock's R&D department giving feedback to the engineers; in 2013 he joined the company as a product specialist in upper limb prosthesis.^[6]

Paralympic sport

Visiting a prosthetics trade show in 2012, Mayrhofer saw a stall run by the Austrian Paralympic Committee, which led to him deciding to pursue para-snowboarding.^[1][4] At the 2015 World Para Snowboard World Championships at La Molina, Spain, Mayrhofer won the gold medal in the Banked Slalom^[7] and came fifth in snowboard cross.^[8]

In the 2018 Winter Paralympics, he competed in both snowboarding events, coming fifth in snowboard cross on 12 March^[9] but then winning the silver medal in Banked Slalom four days later.^[10]

At the 2019 World Para Snowboard World Championships at Pyhä, Finland, Mayrhofer won the silver medal in the Banked Slalom.

Competition history

Date	Location	Competition	Placing	Discipline	Class	Team	Best time	Ref
30 March 2019	Pyhä, Finland	World Championships	5	Banked Slalom	SB-UL	Austria
27 March 2019	Pyhä, Finland	World Championships		Banked Slalom	SB-UL	Austria	51.43
8 March 2019	La Molina, Spain	World Cup		Banked Slalom	SB-UL	Austria	48.54
7 March 2019	La Molina, Spain	World Cup	4	Banked Slalom	SB-UL	Austria	49.50
5 March 2019	La Molina, Spain	World Cup		Snowboard Cross	SB-UL	Austria	46.20
4 March 2019	La Molina, Spain	World Cup		Snowboard Cross	SB-UL	Austria	47.25
1 December 2018	Pyhä, Finland	World Cup		Snowboard Cross	SB-UL	Austria	38.90
30 November 2018	Pyhä, Finland	World Cup	4	Snowboard Cross	SB-UL	Austria	38.84
15 November 2018	Landraaf, Netherlands	World Cup		Banked Slalom	SB-UL	Austria	42.18
14 November 2018	Landraaf, Netherlands	World Cup		Banked Slalom	SB-UL	Austria	42.46
13 November 2018	Landraaf, Netherlands	Continental Cup		Banked Slalom	SB-UL	Austria	42.48
8 November 2018	Dubai, United Arab Emirates	World Cup		Banked Slalom	SB-UL	Austria	33.37
7 November 2018	Dubai, United Arab Emirates	World Cup		Banked Slalom	SB-UL	Austria	34.94
6 November 2018	Dubai, United Arab Emirates	Continental Cup		Banked Slalom	SB-UL	Austria	33.74
16 March 2018	Jeongseon, South Korea	Winter Paralympics		Banked Slalom	SB-UL	Austria	51.36	[10]
12 March 2018	Jeongseon, South Korea	Winter Paralympics	5	Snowboard Cross	SB-UL	Austria	1:01.04	[9]
8 February 2018	Big White, Canada	World Cup		Banked Slalom	SB-UL	Austria	1:17.59
16 November 2017	Landraaf, Netherlands	World Cup		Banked Slalom	SB-UL	Austria	43.09
15 November 2017	Landraaf, Netherlands	World Cup	4	Banked Slalom	SB-UL	Austria	43.87
16 November 2017	Landraaf, Netherlands	Continental Cup		Banked Slalom	SB-UL	Austria	44.56
18 November 2016	Landraaf, Netherlands	World Cup		Banked Slalom	SB-UL	Austriad	33.85
17 November 2016	Landraaf, Netherlands	World Cup		Banked Slalom	SB-UL	Austria	34.05
18 November 2016	Landraaf, Netherlands	World Cup		Banked Slalom	SB-UL	Austria	33.85
18 November 2016	Landraaf, Netherlands	World Cup		Banked Slalom	SB-UL	Austria	34.07
17 November 2016	Landraaf, Netherlands	World Cup		Banked Slalom	SB-UL	Austria	34.05
16 November 2016	Landraaf, Netherlands	Continental Cup		Banked Slalom	SB-UL	Austria	34.07
18 March 2016	Trentino, Italy	World Cup		Banked Slalom	SB-UL	Austria	57.00
17 March 2016	Trentino, Italy	World Cup		Snowboard Cross	SB-UL	Austria	53.75
16 March 2016	Trentino, Italy	World Cup	4	Snowboard Cross	SB-UL	Austria	56.86
12 March 2016	Les Angles, France	World Cup		Banked Slalom	SB-UL	Austria	1:05.60
11 March 2016	Les Angles, France	Continental Cup		Banked Slalom	SB-UL	Austria	1:05.39
9 March 2016	Les Angles, France	World Cup		Snowboard Cross	SB-UL	Austria	41.85
8 March 2016	Les Angles, France	Continental Cup		Snowboard Cross	SB-UL	Austria	41.85
13 February 2016	Big White, Canada	World Cup		Banked Slalom	SB-UL	Austria	1:03.44
11 February 2016	Big White, Canada	World Cup		Snowboard Cross	SB-UL	Austria	1:08.36
10 February 2016	Big White, Canada	World Cup		Snowboard Cross	SB-UL	Austria	1:07.83
6 February 2016	Aspen Snowmass, USA	World Cup		Snowboard Cross	SB-UL	Austria	38.31
5 February 2016	Aspen Snowmass, USA	World Cup		Snowboard Cross	SB-UL	Austria	39.49
4 February 2016	Aspen Snowmass, USA	Continental Cup		Snowboard Cross	SB-UL	Austria	38.76
20 November 2015	Landraaf, Netherlands	World Cup		Banked Slalom	SB-UL	Austria	32.53
19 November 2015	Landraaf, Netherlands	World Cup		Banked Slalom	SB-UL	Austria	32.42
18 November 2015	Landraaf, Netherlands	Continental Cup		Banked Slalom	SB-UL	Austria	32.51
28 February 2015	La Molina, Spain	World Championships		Banked Slalom	SB-UL	Austria	1:31.65	[7]
24 February 2015	La Molina, Spain	World Championships	5	Snowboard Cross	SB-UL	Austria	55.32	[8]
19 January 2015	Big White, Canada	World Cup		Banked Slalom	SB-UL	Austria	2:26.71
17 January 2015	Big White, Canada	World Cup		Snowboard Cross	SB-UL	Austria	1:12.25
13 January 2015	Aspen Snowmass, USA	World Cup	4	Snowboard Cross	SB-UL	Austria	32.37
12 January 2015	Aspen Snowmass, USA	World Cup		Snowboard Cross	SB-UL	Austria	1:03.55
20 November 2014	Landraaf, Netherlands	World Cup		Banked Slalom	SB-UL	Austria	1.16:98
19 November 2014	Landraaf, Netherlands	Continental Cup		Banked Slalom	SB-UL	Austria	1:18.60.51
12 February 2014	La Molina, Spain	World Cup		Snowboard Cross	SB-UL	Austria	1.28.43
11 February 2014	La Molina, Spain	World Cup		Snowboard Cross	SB-UL	Austria	1.31.34

Personal life

Mayrhofer is married.^[1]

References

1. "Athlete Profile — Patrick MAYRHOFER". PyeongChang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games. Archived from the original on 19 March 2018. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
2. "Mayrhofer ist Behindertensportler des Jahres". MeinBezirk.at (in German). 4 November 2015. Archived from the original on 19 March 2018. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
3. Sruthi Pinnameneni (6 July 2011). "Europe's first bionic hand still going strong a year on". Deutsche Welle. Archived from the original on 19 March 2018. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
4. "Patrick Mayrhofer". Ottobock. 13 March 2018. Archived from the original on 19 March 2018. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
5. Neil Bowdler (18 May 2011). "Bionic hand for 'elective amputation' patient". BBC News Online. Archived from the original on 7 March 2018. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
6. "Pilots of the Cybathlon: Patrick Mayrhofer". Cybathlon, ETH Zurich. 5 June 2015. Archived from the original on 21 March 2018. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
7. "2015 IPCAS Para Snowboard World Championships La Molina: Men's Banked Slalom SB-UL". International Paralympic Committee. 28 February 2015. Archived from the original on 25 March 2018. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
8. "2015 IPCAS Para Snowboard World Championships La Molina: Men's snowboard cross SB-UL". International Paralympic Committee. 24 February 2015. Archived from the original on 25 March 2018. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
9. "Medals and Ranking — Men's Snowboard Cross SB-UL". PyeongChang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games. 12 March 2018. Archived from the original on 17 March 2018. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
10. "Medals and Ranking — Men's Banked Slalom SB-UL". PyeongChang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games. 16 March 2018. Archived from the original on 17 March 2018. Retrieved 16 March 2018.

External links

• Patrick Mayrhofer at the International Paralympic Committee
• Patrick Mayrhofer at IPC.InfostradaSports.com (archived)
• Patrick Mayrhofer at World Para Snowboard
• Patrick Mayrhofer on Facebook
• Profile on Ottobock website
• Athlete profile for the 2018 Winter Paralympics
• "My Incredible Story – Patrick Mayrhofer", a video interview on the International Paralympic Committee channel on YouTube