Paralympic Champ Matt Stutzman Targets Olympic Gold in LA

Two years after retiring with a Paralympic gold medal, Matt Stutzman is lacing up his boots again for a shot at history.

The archer known worldwide as the "Armless Archer" announced he's targeting a spot on Team USA for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. When compound archery was added to the Olympic program for the first time, Stutzman saw an opportunity too big to pass up.

"I thought winning gold in Paris was the perfect ending to my career," Stutzman told USA Archery. "But I realized my story might not be finished."

What makes this comeback remarkable is the barrier Stutzman is attempting to break. Only a few dozen athletes in history have competed in both the Olympic and Paralympic Games. None have ever won medals in both.

Stutzman will compete for one of two spots on the USA compound archery team. As the host nation, the United States automatically qualifies a mixed team featuring one male and one female archer.

Paralympic Champ Matt Stutzman Targets Olympic Gold in LA

The competition will be fierce, but Stutzman remains characteristically confident. He's not just doing this for another medal.

Why This Inspires

Stutzman's return carries a message for young athletes with disabilities everywhere. "I want them to see that they do not have to accept someone else's definition of their limits," he said.

His goal goes beyond personal achievement. "When I step onto the range, I am not just a great para archer," Stutzman explained. "I am one of the best archers in the world."

Several archers have competed in both Games before. New Zealand's Neroli Fairhall was the first athlete in any sport to do so, competing at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics after winning Paralympic gold in 1980. Iran's Zahra Nemati won individual Paralympic gold in both 2012 and 2016 while also competing in the 2016 Olympics.

But the Olympic and Paralympic double medal? That achievement remains unclaimed.

The Olympic archery competition begins July 19, 2028, at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, giving Stutzman two years to prepare for his historic attempt.