Paralympic champion Matt Stutzman has announced his return to competitive archery, setting his sights on a historic goal: qualifying for the LA28 Olympic Games and becoming the first Paralympic gold medalist to win an Olympic gold medal in archery. Stutzman, who retired after capturing gold at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, is now aiming for the Olympic stage as compound archery makes its debut at the Los Angeles Games.
Stutzman, born without arms, competes using his feet and a release mechanism near his shoulder. His remarkable accuracy and innovative technique have made him a global icon. After winning silver at London 2012 and gold in Paris, he was named World Archery's overall Archer of the Year, a first for a Para athlete. Now, he is taking on a new challenge: earning a spot on the U.S. compound mixed team for LA28.
The addition of compound archery to the Olympic program includes a mixed-team event with one male and one female archer per qualifying nation. Stutzman will compete in the U.S. Olympic Trials to secure the men's position. Only 12 compound mixed teams are expected at LA28, making the qualification process exceptionally competitive.
"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."
Stutzman's return involves adapting to the demands of mixed-team competition, which requires precision and consistency. He acknowledges the difficulty: "Nothing is guaranteed—not qualification, not selection and certainly not a medal. That is exactly why the challenge means so much to me."
The LA28 archery competition will be held at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, with qualification on July 19, 2028, and medal rounds on July 21. Stutzman's road includes national and international events, intensive training, and seeking commercial partners to support his campaign.
"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."
Stutzman's ambition is unprecedented: no Paralympic champion has ever won an Olympic gold in archery. His attempt challenges perceptions of ability and inspires athletes with disabilities to push beyond perceived limits. As he steps onto the range, he aims to prove he is not just a great Para archer but one of the best archers in the world.
