Philip
Scholz
Paralympian 2008
Athlete Bio#
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Hometown
Mount Sinai
Although Philip Scholz is a newcomer to the Paralympic scene, having competed in his first Paralympic Games in 2008, he is in no way new to the sport of swimming. Scholz graduated from Mount Sinai High School in 2007, where he was a member of the varsity swim team all four years. In 2010 Scholz competed in the IPC Swimming World Championships in Eindhoven, Netherlands and earned a silver medal in the 400m freestyle event.
Scholz was born in Munich, Germany, with a connective tissue disorder called Stickler Syndrome, which causes cleft palate, hearing loss, high myopia, cataract, vision loss due to retina detachment and potentially arthritis. He was also diagnosed with Morbus Hirschsprung Syndrome, a disorder that requires surgical intervention. At age six, Scholz lost vision in one eye, and at 14 lost vision in the other eye due to retina detachment.
In 2006, Scholz was paired up with his current guide dog, Taxi, a male Labrador Retriever/Golden Retriever cross.
In September 2007, Scholz enrolled at Loyola College in Maryland as a full-time student and member of the Division I swim team under coach Brian Loeffler.
Major Achievements:
- 2010: Silver medal, 400m Freestyle – IPC Swimming World Championships, Eindhoven, Netherlands
- 2008: U.S. Paralympic Team member, Swimming – Paralympic Games, Beijing China
- 2008: American record, 50m breaststroke and 50m backstroke – Can Am Championships, Victoria, British Columbia
- 2008: Nominated for ESPY Award, Best Male Athlete with a Disability
- 2007: McKinley Award – Best Male Athlete in high school district
