Matt Stutzman

Last updated

Matt Stutzman
Matt Stutzman 2012.jpg
Stutzman at the 2012 Summer Paralympics
Personal information
Full nameMatthew Stutzman
Born (1982-12-10) December 10, 1982 (age 41) [1]
Kansas City, Kansas, U.S.
Website mattstutzman.com
Sport
CountryFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Sport Para-archery
EventCompound open
Coached byRandi Smith [2]
Medal record
Para-archery
Representing Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Paralympic Games
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2024 Paris Individual compound
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2012 London Individual compound
World Para Archery Championship
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2022 Dubai Compound Men Open
Parapan American Games
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2015 Toronto Individual compound

Matthew Stutzman (born December 10, 1982) is an American archer. [3] He competed at the Paralympics 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. [4]

Contents

Early life

Stutzman was born in Kansas City, Kansas. [5] His birth parents put him up for adoption at 4 months old, and at 13 months old, he was adopted by Leon and Jean Stutzman. [6] [7] [8] He grew up in Iowa with seven siblings and was raised in the Mennonite faith. [8] [9]

Stutzman was born without arms, although there is no underlying condition known to have caused this. [10]

Career

Stutzman began practicing archery at 28 years old in 2010. [10] In 2015, he broke the world record for the furthest accurate distance shot, which had been previously held by an able-bodied archer. [11] [10]

His first Paralympic competition was in the 2012 Summer Paralympics, where he won silver. [10] Stutzman has won multiple medals in various years at the World Para Archery Championship. [10] [12] [13]

He went on to compete in the 2024 Summer Paralympics, defeating Ai Xinliang in a shoot-off and winning gold. [14] [15] He mentored Sheetal Devi, who also competed in the 2024 Summer Paralympics. [10]

Stutzman stated that the 2024 Summer Paralympics may be his final Paralympic competition due to hip issues. [16]

Personal life

Stutzman lives in Fairfield, Iowa. [5] He is married and has three sons. [16] [17]

Filmography

Film roles
YearTitleRoleNotes
2013 My Way to Olympia [18] HimselfDocumentary
2020 Rising Phoenix [19] HimselfDocumentary

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References

  1. "Matt Stutzman". Rio2016.com. Rio 2016 Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archived from the original on December 3, 2016.
  2. "Matt Stutzman". London 2012 Paralympics. London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archived from the original on September 15, 2012.
  3. "Archery: STUTZMAN Matt". Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archived from the original on August 29, 2021. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  4. "A Day in the Life: Matt Stutzman". YouTube. July 2, 2012. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
  5. 1 2 "biography". InspirationalArcher.com. December 10, 1982. Archived from the original on March 29, 2012. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
  6. "Matt Stutzman". www.teamusa.com. August 31, 2024. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  7. "Matt Stutzman Speaking Fee, Schedule, Bio & Contact Details". Premiere Speakers Bureau: Keynote Speakers, Business Speakers, Motivational Speakers, and Celebrity Speakers. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  8. 1 2 Axon, Rachel (July 23, 2016). "Paralympic archer Matt Stutzman puts family first as he chases his dreams". USA TODAY. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  9. Review, Rachel Stella | Mennonite World (October 10, 2016). "Armless Archer inspires". Anabaptist World. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Guzman, Chad de (September 2, 2024). "What to Know About the Armless Archers Taking the Paralympics by Storm". TIME. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  11. "World Record Attempt: "Armless Archer" Matt Stutzman Looks to Make History". YouTube. October 30, 2011. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
  12. Brennan, Eliott (February 25, 2022). "Stutzman and Andrievskaia secure first individual gold medals at World Archery Para Championships". InsideTheGames.biz. Inside the Games . Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  13. ""World champ baby!" – Stutzman delivers in Dubai". World Archery. February 25, 2022. Retrieved March 6, 2022.
  14. ""Iowan 'Armless Archer' Matt Stutzman wins gold medal for Team USA at Paris Paralympics"". The Des Moines Register . September 1, 2024. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
  15. "Stutzman crowns his career with a longed-for Paralympics gold after two shoot-offs | World Archery". www.worldarchery.sport. September 1, 2024. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  16. 1 2 "'Armless Archer' Stutzman and his disarming sense of humor". AP News. January 15, 2020. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  17. "Matt Stutzman balances archery and racing, with his feet". www.southeastiowaunion.com. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  18. My Way to Olympia film webpage
  19. "Rising Phoenix review – A tear-jerking celebration of human achievement". Little White Lies. Retrieved August 29, 2024.

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