Iowan 'Armless Archer' Matt Stutzman Wins Gold for Team USA at Paris Paralympics

Matt Stutzman, often referred to as 'the Armless Archer,' has added another major achievement to his impressive career.

The three-time Paralympian from Fairfield, Iowa, claimed the gold medal in the men’s individual compound archery competition at the Paris Paralympics on Sunday afternoon. This victory marks Stutzman's second Paralympic medal, following his silver in the 2012 London Games. Competing in his fourth Paralympics, Stutzman once again proved his elite status in the sport.

Stutzman, 41, faced a challenging journey to the top of the podium. Born without arms, he finished the ranking round in 19th place, a lower-than-expected seed heading into the elimination bracket. However, he remained unfazed, defeating Mexico's Victor Viveros Sardina in the Round of 32, Finland's Jere Forsberg in the Round of 16, Team Great Britain's Nathan MacQueen in the quarterfinals, and China's He Zihao in the semifinals. Stutzman advanced to the gold medal match after winning two intense shoot-offs, where a single arrow determines who moves on, by being closest to the target's center.

In the final, Stutzman faced China’s Ai Xinliang, securing victory in a thrilling 149-147 match to earn the gold. His 149 points out of a possible 150 in the final match set a new Paralympic record.