Bibian Mentel

Mentel started her snowboard career in 1993. She gave up her lawschool study in Amsterdam to focus on snowboarding entirely. Is 1996 she participated in her first FIS Snowboard World Cup competition.

During a practise run for the championships in Breckenridge she suffered an injury in her ankle. She completed the season, however the ankle remained a source of concern. X-rays showed a spot on her tibia which was diagnosed as a malign bone tumor. The tumor was removed and Mentel started training for the 2002 Winter Olympics for which she was qualified. Soon it became clear that the tumor had regrown and had a chance of spreading to the rest of her body via her blood. She chose to agree to have her leg amputated.

4 months after the amputation she was able to ride a snowboard again, despite being unable to walk using crutches. The following January she was asked to present the trophy at the Dutch championships halfpipe. She decided to join the Dutch championships snowboard cross which she won.

In 2013 Bibian Mentel qualified for the 2014 Winter Paralympics. At the opening ceremony she was the flag-carrier for the Netherlands. She won the Paralympic gold medal in the snowboard cross event.

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