Philip Scholz
Encyclopedia
Philip Scholz is an American
Paralympic swimmer. Being completely blind
, he is classified in the S11 category of blind swimmers. Originally from Munich, Germany, Scholz came on to the international stage in December 2007 in College Park, Maryland
.
, a genetic defect that can cause problems with the ears, eyes, throat, and joints. Philip went blind in his left eye at the age of six due to retinal detachments, brought on directly by Styckler Syndrome.
The family, including Philip's younger sister, Mirjam, moved to the United States in April of 1995, settling in into Mount Sinai, New York
. Both Philip and Mirjam attended school in Mount Sinai, going through the district's elementary, middle, and high schools. In November of 2002, Philip began losing sight in his right eye, also due to retinal detachments, and was declared "completely blind" in March of 2005.
Philip graduated from the Mount Sinai High School in 2007 and went on to Loyola University Maryland, where he is graduated in 2011 with a degree in Global Studies
. He currently holds duel citizenship between Germany and the United States.
After losing his sight, Philip continued swimming and graduated from TVSC in 2007. He then went on to swim for the Loyola Greyhounds Swim Team at Loyola University under coach Brian Loeffler.
Philip's first Paralympic meet was the Georgia Open in Atlanta, Georgia
in January 2006, though it didn't go quite that well.
After becoming an American citizen in November 2007, Philip went on the international stage at the University of Maryland, College Park
, where he set several long-course American records in the 50 meter butterfly, the 800 meter freestyle, and the 1500 meter freestyle. Before that, he had also set eight short course American records in Loyola's H2Ounds Invitational swim meet, setting times in the 50 yard freestyle, the 100 yard freestyle, the 200 yard freestyle, the 500 yard freestyle, the 1000 yard freestyle, the 1650 yard freestyle, the 100 yard butterfly, and the 200 yard butterfly.
Philip Scholz represented the United States of America in the 2008 Paralympic Games in China, qualifying in the 50 meter freestyle, the 100 meter freestyle, the 400 meter freestyle, the 100 meter butterfly, and the 100 meter backstroke. He placed 5th overall in the 400 meter freestyle and 8th overall in the 100 meter butterfly.
Since the 2008 Paralympics, Philip has become the American record holder for all short course events (yards), and the American record holder in the 200 meter butterfly, 800 meter freestyle, the 1500 meter freestyle, the 50 meter butterfly, and the 50 meter backstroke. He has also briefly held the world record in the 200 meter butterfly.
. He is training for the 2012 Parolympic Games in London
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Paralympic swimmer. Being completely blind
Blindness
Blindness is the condition of lacking visual perception due to physiological or neurological factors.Various scales have been developed to describe the extent of vision loss and define blindness...
, he is classified in the S11 category of blind swimmers. Originally from Munich, Germany, Scholz came on to the international stage in December 2007 in College Park, Maryland
College Park, Maryland
College Park is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, USA. The population was 30,413 at the 2010 census. It is best known as the home of the University of Maryland, College Park, and since 1994 the city has also been home to the "Archives II" facility of the U.S...
.
Early life
Philip Scholz was born on April 12, 1988, in Munich, Germany, to parents Thomas and Ariane Scholz. At a young age, Philip was diagnosed with Stickler SyndromeStickler syndrome
Stickler syndrome is a group of genetic disorders affecting connective tissue, specifically collagen. It was first studied and characterized by Gunnar B. Stickler in 1965. Stickler syndrome is a subtype of collagenopathy, types II and XI...
, a genetic defect that can cause problems with the ears, eyes, throat, and joints. Philip went blind in his left eye at the age of six due to retinal detachments, brought on directly by Styckler Syndrome.
The family, including Philip's younger sister, Mirjam, moved to the United States in April of 1995, settling in into Mount Sinai, New York
Mount Sinai, New York
Mount Sinai is a hamlet and census-designated place in Suffolk County, New York, USA. The population was 8,734 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
. Both Philip and Mirjam attended school in Mount Sinai, going through the district's elementary, middle, and high schools. In November of 2002, Philip began losing sight in his right eye, also due to retinal detachments, and was declared "completely blind" in March of 2005.
Philip graduated from the Mount Sinai High School in 2007 and went on to Loyola University Maryland, where he is graduated in 2011 with a degree in Global Studies
Global Studies
Global studies, in its broadest definition is the academic study of political, economic, social and cultural relationships of the world. Furthermore, it can also include the study of political and cultural processes, the impacts of globalisation, markets and communications. Global Studies...
. He currently holds duel citizenship between Germany and the United States.
Swimming
Philip's first swim team was the Three Village Swim Club (TVSC), coached by Barry Roffer, which he first joined in September 1998. Initially considered a sighted swimmer, he was easily able to fit right in on the team.After losing his sight, Philip continued swimming and graduated from TVSC in 2007. He then went on to swim for the Loyola Greyhounds Swim Team at Loyola University under coach Brian Loeffler.
Philip's first Paralympic meet was the Georgia Open in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
in January 2006, though it didn't go quite that well.
After becoming an American citizen in November 2007, Philip went on the international stage at the University of Maryland, College Park
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
, where he set several long-course American records in the 50 meter butterfly, the 800 meter freestyle, and the 1500 meter freestyle. Before that, he had also set eight short course American records in Loyola's H2Ounds Invitational swim meet, setting times in the 50 yard freestyle, the 100 yard freestyle, the 200 yard freestyle, the 500 yard freestyle, the 1000 yard freestyle, the 1650 yard freestyle, the 100 yard butterfly, and the 200 yard butterfly.
Philip Scholz represented the United States of America in the 2008 Paralympic Games in China, qualifying in the 50 meter freestyle, the 100 meter freestyle, the 400 meter freestyle, the 100 meter butterfly, and the 100 meter backstroke. He placed 5th overall in the 400 meter freestyle and 8th overall in the 100 meter butterfly.
Since the 2008 Paralympics, Philip has become the American record holder for all short course events (yards), and the American record holder in the 200 meter butterfly, 800 meter freestyle, the 1500 meter freestyle, the 50 meter butterfly, and the 50 meter backstroke. He has also briefly held the world record in the 200 meter butterfly.
Personal life
Philip Scholz currently lives on Long IslandLong Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
. He is training for the 2012 Parolympic Games in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.