‘Armless archer’ Matt Stutzman wins historic gold medal at Paris Paralympics

PARIS ( WCMH ) — Matt Stutzman was already a trailblazer in Para Archery as the first ever armless archer.

In Paris, he made even more history, with his first gold medal in the sport that changed his life.

“When I first started, I Googled it, ‘How to teach an armless man how to shoot a bow,’ cause I didn’t know how to shoot a bow,” said Stutzman. “Yes, it got hard. Yes, it got difficult. But I fell in love with it so quickly because I realized for the first time in many, many years that it was a sport that I could compete against anyone in the world and beat them.”

Using his trailblazing technique, with his feet aiming the bow and his jaw to release the arrow, he won silver in his first Paralympics in London, but it wasn’t until these games in Paris that he returned to the podium.

“At these Games, I beat the guy that beat me in London to win, like I had to go through him to win, and then I shot for the first time against another armless guy, for the first time in the history of the sport, and I was the one who got to do that,” said Stutzman. “Of course, I had to show him what’s up.”

Stutzman would go on to beat the world No. 1 and No. 2 ranked archers and win the gold medal with a Paralympic record score. Not bad for a guy who didn’t even practice leading up to the games.

“I didn’t shoot my bow for probably two months before I came here,” said Stutzman. “ And during that time, I only worked on mental focus. If I do my process and I enjoy the memories that I’m making at these Games and not worry about winning a gold medal, it will happen, it will come to me. And that’s what happened. And I can’t believe it. Mental training works, I cannot believe it.”

Stutzman has said as much as he would love to compete in L.A. 2028, this is most likely his fina Paralympics. That’s why he’s been calling this his memories games. And what memories he will have.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTAJ - www.wtaj.com.