Matthew Stutzman (born December 10, 1982) is an American archer. He competed at the

Paralympics The Paralympic Games or Paralympics is a periodic series of international multisport events involving athletes with a range of disabilities. There are Winter and Summer Paralympic Games, which since the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Kore ...

in 2012, 2016, 2020, and 2024, winning a silver medal in London in 2012 and a gold medal in Paris in 2024. Born without arms, Stutzman uses his legs and feet for most of his activities, including archery.

Early life

Stutzman was born in

Kansas City, Kansas Kansas City (commonly known as KCK) is the third-most populous city in the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Wyandotte County. It is an inner suburb of the older and more populous Kansas City, Missouri, after which it is named. As ...

. His birth parents put him up for

adoption Adoption is a process whereby a person assumes the parenting of another, usually a child, from that person's biological or legal parent or parents. Legal adoptions permanently transfer all rights and responsibilities, along with filiation, fro ...

at 4 months old, and at 13 months old, he was adopted by Leon and Jean Stutzman. He grew up in Iowa with seven siblings and was raised in the

Mennonite Mennonites are a group of Anabaptism, Anabaptist Christianity, Christian communities tracing their roots to the epoch of the Radical Reformation. The name ''Mennonites'' is derived from the cleric Menno Simons (1496–1561) of Friesland, part of ...

faith. Stutzman was born without arms, although there is no underlying condition known to have caused this.

Career

Stutzman began practicing archery at 28 years old in 2010. In 2015, he broke the world record for the furthest accurate distance shot, which had been previously held by an able-bodied archer. His first Paralympic competition was in the

2012 Summer Paralympics The 2012 Summer Paralympics, branded as the London 2012 Paralympic Games, were an international Multi-sport event, multi-sport parasports event held from 29 August to 9 September 2012 in London, England, United Kingdom. They were the 14th Sum ...

, where he won silver. Stutzman has won multiple medals in various years at the

World Para Archery Championship World Para Archery Championship was first held in 1998 in the UK and take place every two years. Events Champions Recurve Standing / Open ;Men ;Women Recurve W2 ;Men ;Women Recurve Team Events ;Men ;Women ;Mixed Compound Open ;Men ...

. Stutsman is featured in the 2020 documentary film ''

Rising Phoenix ''Rising Phoenix'' is a 2020 documentary film directed by Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui and starring Tatyana McFadden, Bebe Vio and Jonnie Peacock. The film conveys the stories of nine Paralympic Games, Paralympic athletes and their journeys in ...

''. He went on to compete in the

2024 Summer Paralympics The 2024 Summer Paralympics (), also known as the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games (), and branded as Paris 2024, were the 17th Summer Paralympic Games, an international Multi-sport event, multi-sport parasports event governed by the International P ...

, defeating Ai Xinliang in a shoot-off and winning gold. He mentored

Sheetal Devi Sheetal Devi (born 10 January 2007) is an Indian para-archer. She won a bronze medal in the mixed team compound event at the 2024 Paralympics, becoming the youngest Indian Paralympian medalist. She won two gold medals and one silver at the 20 ...

, who also competed in the 2024 Summer Paralympics. Stutzman stated that the 2024 Summer Paralympics may be his final Paralympic competition due to hip issues.

Personal life

Stutzman lives in Fairfield,

Iowa Iowa ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the upper Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west; Wisconsin to the northeast, Ill ...

. He is married and has three sons.

Filmography

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Stutzman, Matt 1982 births Living people American male archers Sportspeople from Iowa Sportspeople from Kansas City, Kansas Archers at the 2012 Summer Paralympics Archers at the 2016 Summer Paralympics Archers at the 2020 Summer Paralympics Archers at the 2024 Summer Paralympics Paralympic archers for the United States Medalists at the 2012 Summer Paralympics Medalists at the 2024 Summer Paralympics Paralympic medalists in archery Paralympic gold medalists for the United States Paralympic silver medalists for the United States Amputee-category Paralympic competitors People from Fairfield, Iowa Archers at the 2015 Parapan American Games Medalists at the 2015 Parapan American Games 21st-century American sportsmen Ripley's Believe It or Not! People without hands Parapan American Games medalists in archery Parapan American Games silver medalists for the United States