Cato Zahl Pedersen

Cato Zahl Pedersen is a Paralympian, adventurer, speaker and sports consultant. In 1973, an accident resulted in the loss of Cato’s left arm and half of his right. Undeterred, he pursued his dreams and went on to win 13 gold medals and a silver medal in track, cross-country skiing and alpine sports at the Paralympic Games. During this time, he also earned degrees in sports training and marketing from the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences and the Norwegian School of Marketing, respectively. While pursuing a career in business and serving on numerous boards as a member and chairman, Cato successfully reached the South Pole unsupported in 1994. And more than a decade later, he ascended two of the world’s highest mountains—Cho Oyu in 2005 and Mt. Everest in 2007. These feats are all the more remarkable considering it was accomplished without the use of his arms.