Paralympic champion Matt Stutzman has announced his return to competitive archery with an unprecedented goal: qualifying for the LA28 Olympic Games and becoming the first Paralympic gold medalist to win an Olympic gold medal in archery. The announcement, made on August 4, 2026, marks a dramatic reversal of his retirement from international para-archery after his triumph at the Paris 2024 Paralympics.
Stutzman, known globally as "The Armless Archer," captured his first Paralympic gold medal in Paris with a record-breaking score of 149 out of 150 in the final. He had previously won silver at London 2012 and competed in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020. After his Paris victory, he became the first para athlete to be named World Archery's overall Archer of the Year.
The decision to return was sparked by the inclusion of compound archery in the Olympic program for Los Angeles. "I thought winning gold in Paris was the perfect ending to my career," Stutzman said. "But when compound archery was added to the Olympic program for Los Angeles, I realized my story might not be finished. I have the opportunity to attempt something that has never been done before—and I have to take that shot."
Compound archery will make its Olympic debut at LA28 as a mixed-team event, with one male and one female archer from each qualifying nation. Stutzman will compete for the men's spot on the U.S. team through the USA Archery Olympic Trials selection process. This campaign represents one of the most ambitious crossover attempts in Olympic and Paralympic history.
Born without arms, Stutzman uses his feet to hold and fire his compound bow, with a release mechanism near his shoulder. His innovative technique and remarkable accuracy have made him a standout in the sport. Now, he aims to prove he can compete at the highest level of able-bodied archery.
"This is bigger than coming out of retirement," Stutzman emphasized. "It is about challenging what people believe is possible. I want young athletes with disabilities to see that they do not have to accept someone else's definition of their limits. I also want to prove that when I step onto the range, I am not just a great Para archer—I am one of the best archers in the world."
The road to LA28 will be arduous. Only 12 compound mixed teams are expected to compete, making qualification exceptionally selective. Stutzman will need to compete against top U.S. and international archers while adapting to the demands of mixed-team competition. The archery events will take place at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, with qualification scheduled for July 19, 2028, and medal rounds on July 21.
Stutzman remains undaunted by the challenge. "I understand how difficult this will be," he said. "Nothing is guaranteed—not qualification, not selection and certainly not a medal. That is exactly why the challenge means so much to me. Paris proved that the greatest achievements can come after the moments when other people think your career is over."
His campaign will involve intensive training and national and international competitions, as well as seeking commercial partners to support the unprecedented attempt. "This journey is about more than one athlete or one medal," Stutzman added. "It is about creating a moment that can change how the world looks at ability. I won my Paralympic Gold Medal. Now I am coming back to take aim at Olympic history."
