After years of effort, Matt Stutzman finally achieved Paralympic champion status. The renowned "Armless Archer" navigated two shoot-offs on his path to victory, ultimately defeating top seed Ai Xinliang to secure gold at the Paris 2024 Paralympics on Sunday.


Stutzman reflected on the experience, saying, "Those were the best matches of my life, without a doubt. I've shot a couple of 150s at home, but nothing compares to this. You don't get the same pressure or the world's best competitors at home, nor an 8000-seat stadium full of people. So, yes, these were definitely the best matches I've ever shot."


In front of his family and a large crowd, Stutzman delivered exceptional performances. Each match was filled with significance and drama.


He added, “It’s definitely a storybook moment. I’ll have more time to process it in a few days, but I don’t think I could have scripted it any better.”


The journey was nothing short of remarkable. Stutzman began his campaign by facing Finland's Jere Forsberg in a rematch of the London 2012 final, emerging victorious this time. In a shoot-off, he landed his arrow squarely in the center of the target.


Continuing his impressive run, Stutzman edged out Nathan MacQueen by a single point and faced China’s He Zihao in the semifinals, where another shoot-off was necessary. Stutzman clinched victory with a score of 10 to Zihao’s 9, securing his second Paralympic medal.


The crowd adored Matt Stutzman, and he felt the same way about them. In the final, he delivered an almost flawless performance, narrowly defeating top contender Ai Xinliang with a score of 149-148.


"When he shot his last arrow, I knew I was going to hit a ten," Stutzman recalled.


And he did. That final shot secured his victory.


“I don’t know how to explain it. It felt like a little voice was saying, 'You’re here now. It’s your time. You’ve practiced for this moment, and your family is here to watch.'”


As the crowd erupted in cheers, Stutzman celebrated his way—jumping, shouting, and running across the stage. Just two hours earlier, he was on the brink of elimination, but his final arrow was upgraded from a nine to a ten, forcing a shoot-off.


“In the past four years, I never once thought about winning a gold medal,” he admitted. “It was all about having fun and making memories. And this is quite a memory,” he said with a smile, glancing at the medal around his neck.


His family witnessed his triumph, and even Hollywood star Jackie Chan praised him as “amazing.” Everything fell into place for Matt’s farewell Paralympics to be unforgettable. It was the memories he sought.


“When I first walked out for my first match, I really had to hold back tears just thinking about performing in front of my family and knowing they supported me no matter what happened.”


"I didn’t want the pressure of winning a medal. I came here to enjoy Paris with my family during my last Games. The memories were what motivated me to practice, not the pursuit of a medal,” Stutzman said.


He ended up creating some of the best memories of his life and winning a gold medal, which left him emotional as he stood on the podium listening to the national anthem.


“I couldn’t believe I was there, that the mental preparation and having my family by my side worked out. And I couldn’t believe I beat the Chinese archers, who were incredibly strong.”


On Sunday, Matt closed out his career, leaving behind a legacy that extends beyond the medal he earned in Paris.


“There are more armless archers involved in the sport now. You can take away all my medals, and it wouldn’t matter, because that would be my true achievement,” Stutzman said.


“Think about how many people are here shooting and feeling what I felt when I first started. It’s not just about winning medals. It’s about competing, experiencing joy, and feeling excitement.”


The silver and bronze medals went to Ai Xinliang and He Zihao of China, respectively.


The competition in Paris continues with W1 and compound mixed team elimination and medal matches.


**Podium: Paris 2024 Paralympic Games**

**Full results on the event page.**


**Compound Men:**

1. Matt Stutzman, USA

2. Ai Xinliang, China

3. He Zihao, China