Iowa native, 'Armless Archer' Matt Stutzman wins gold at Paris Paralympics

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Matt Stutzman is now the first-ever archer without arms to win gold at the Paralympics.

PARIS, France — Matt Stutzman, a Fairfield, Iowa native, and archer born without arms, has won gold at the 2024 Paris Paralympics

Stutzman, known as the “Armless Archer,” has become one of the Games’ best-known Paralympians. On Sunday, the 41-year-old made his big shots count to win the men’s individual compound open event and break a record—becoming the first armless archer ever to win gold at the Paralympics. 

Stutzman scored 149 out of a maximum 150 points against China’s Ai Xinliang, the bronze medalist from Tokyo 2020, in the 5-end final.

It was Stutzman’s fourth and final Paralympics. His last medal win was at the 2012 Games in London, where he took home silver. Stutzman also competed in Rio in 2016 and Tokyo in 2020. 

“I knew going into this it was going to be my last Games, so there’s a lot of emotion, and I didn’t expect this medal, to be honest,” Stutzman said. 

Stutzman had already come through two shoot-offs, against Finland’s Jere Forsberg in the round of 16, then defending champion He Zihao of China in the semifinals.

Before winning gold, Stutzman had already made Paralympic history during the first round against Mexico’s Victor Sardina Viveros. That matchup marked the first time two armless archers competed head-to-head in the Paralympics. 

@nbcolympics

Matt Stutzman takes a bow to archery and dedicates his gold medal to his family. 🥹 #ParisParalympics

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