Stutzman, 41, from the United States is now the first Paralympic Archery Champion without arms having won compound men's gold at Esplanade des Invalides in Paris on Day Four of the 2024 Paralympic Games.

The famed ‘Armless Archer’ needed a near-perfect performance to overcome top seed Ai Xinliang and achieved just that as he won 149-148 in the gold medal match eclipsing the Paralympic record by one point.

It was the second Paralympic medal for Stutzman who won silver in London when he became the first Paralympic archer to shoot a bow with his feet having been born without arms. 

“In the last four years, I never thought once about winning a gold medal. It was about having fun and making memories," said Stutzman. "It’s a pretty good memory, yeah? It’s definitely a book story and I’ll have more time to process it after a couple of days. But yes, it is. I don’t think I could script it any better.”

“There’re more armless archers involved in this sport now. You can take away all my medals, and I wouldn’t care, because that would be my medal. Do you know how many people are here shooting and feeling what I felt when I first started shooting? It’s not about winning the medals. It’s about the fact that they’re competing against people. They’re winning. They’re getting this feeling of joy and excitement” he continued.

“Those were the best matches of my life in front of the TV. I’ve shot a couple of 150s at home, but you don’t get pressure at home. You don’t get the best in the world at home. You don’t get an 8000-stadium full of people at home. So, yeah, without a doubt, the best I’ve ever shot.”

Dad of three Stutzman had his family watching in Paris and says it was extra emotional for him almost bringing him to tears when he first participated. 

“When he shot his last arrow, I knew I was going to hit a ten. I just don’t know," said Stutzman talking about his last shot against Ai Xinliang in the final. "That little birdie said, ‘Hey, you’re here now. It’s your time. 

"You’ve been practising it forever. You got your family here to watch.’ When I first walked out for my first match, I really had to fight back the tears of just being able to perform in front of my family and having them cheer, knowing they had my back no matter what happened.”

It was Tokyo 2020 gold medalist He Zihao of China who won the bronze medal match to join China's Ai Xinliang and Team USA's Matt Stutzman on the podium of the Men's Individual Compound Archery event.