Sports

Meet The Armless Archer — A Paralympic Hopeful

Matt Stutzman was born without arms, and yet he is a champion archer in a sport where virtually every other competitor needs two arms to compete. Stutzman is a marksman with his bow and arrow, recently qualifying to compete for a spot to represent the United States in London at the 2012 Paralympics — the games for those with disabilities that run concurrent with the Olympic games.

Meet The Armless Archer A Paralympic Hopeful

This father of two can do just about everything that people with arms can do, including ride a motorcycle and drive a car. But even more amazing, he can shoot an arrow. Watch him in action below:

Curt Swarm of the Newton Daily News in Iowa reports:

Matt is available for motivational speaking and demonstrations.  His website: www.inspirationalarcher.com has film clips of, amongst others, Matt shooting his bow and gun, assembling a bow, and Matt changing brake pads on a car — all with his feet.

H/T to the Newton Daily News

Comments (37)

  • flatbroke
    Posted on June 17, 2011 at 4:57pm

    this is AWESOME! I need to see more of this:)))))))

    Report Post » flatbroke  
  • TheDebtWeAllPay
    Posted on June 17, 2011 at 3:39pm

    very cool

    Report Post » TheDebtWeAllPay  
  • LVNAmerica
    Posted on June 17, 2011 at 1:59pm

    I had the honor of speaking to Matt in person today. He is truly an inspirational and humble man. He is handling all of this new found attention quite well. Thank you, Blaze, for running this story.

    Report Post »  
  • Sailboat
    Posted on June 17, 2011 at 8:06am

    I loved this. I wish we lived closer so I could take him Crossbow hunting with me for Talapia. He would enjoy eating them as well as the hunt.

    Report Post »  
  • thermonator
    Posted on June 16, 2011 at 5:58pm

    Wow……both my son and I are archers and it’s hard for me to imagine the kind of strength you would need in your legs, stomach and lower back to do this……impressive indeed!

    Report Post » thermonator  
  • VLADTEPES
    Posted on June 16, 2011 at 5:56pm

    Love bow hunting, I LIKE THIS GUY..

    Report Post »  
  • thegreatcarnac
    Posted on June 16, 2011 at 5:37pm

    Yeah….but can he compete in the stand-and-shoot competition????

    (Just kidding. He is very inspirational)

    Report Post »  
  • islandlady
    Posted on June 16, 2011 at 12:25pm

    God takes mans greatest weaknesses and makes them his strengths.

    Report Post » islandlady  
    • kickagrandma
      Posted on June 16, 2011 at 12:37pm

      @ISLANDLADY ~~~ Thank you. Yes HE does. Your post reminded me of that on a day I needed to read it. Thanks and GOD BLESS!

      Report Post »  
  • HiredMind Blog
    Posted on June 16, 2011 at 11:54am

    I think it‘s great that he hasn’t let his lack of arms kill his desire to be an archer. More power to him!

    But how if he’s going to compete in the Olympics, how is that fair to the other competitors? He gets to sit down while the other archers stand? One of the biggest problems in shooting a bow is fatigue that leads to shaking of your bow arm – and the leg is a much stronger limb than the arm, hence less susceptible to fatigue. How is that fair?

    Report Post »  
    • 121-7..9
      Posted on June 16, 2011 at 10:06pm

      Because he competes against Paralympic archers. The equipment used, sit/stand/etc. are all open for modification to accommodate the needs of the archer. I have watched this man shoot in competition, and he is both very good at his sport, but also a genuinely nice man. He is a pleasure to watch shoot.

      Report Post »  
  • Longing for Change
    Posted on June 16, 2011 at 11:43am

    As a disabled Vet, I watch this video and this puts a whole new perspective on what I go through day after day. Thank you for putting this up on THEBLAZE!

    Report Post » Longing for Change  
    • shirelover
      Posted on June 16, 2011 at 3:12pm

      Thank you for your sacrifice. When I see people like you and this gentleman, my problems seem so much smaller!

      Report Post » shirelover  
  • heavyduty
    Posted on June 16, 2011 at 11:37am

    Just goes to show that you can do anything that you want to do. I hope he makes it to the games.

    Report Post »  
  • Vickie Dhaene
    Posted on June 16, 2011 at 11:33am

    What a brave soul. God Bless him.

    Report Post »  
  • kickagrandma
    Posted on June 16, 2011 at 11:20am

    WOW! You challenge me to get up off my sorry old b*** and DO SOMETHING good instead of sitting here feeling sad, old and useless.

    Thank you and GOD BLESS AND STRENGTHEN YOU!

    Report Post »  
  • frustratedwithgovt
    Posted on June 16, 2011 at 11:18am

    Its rather humbling given all we take for granted.

    Report Post » frustratedwithgovt  
  • Blackwater 79
    Posted on June 16, 2011 at 11:18am

    Inspiring!–we need MORE stories like THIS!

    Report Post »  
  • Visions (Southern Cross)
    Posted on June 16, 2011 at 11:16am

    props to him. I couldn’t do it

    Report Post » Visions (Southern Cross)  
  • TRONINTHEMORNING
    Posted on June 16, 2011 at 11:16am

    Awesome! Inspiring! Great story!

    Report Post »  
  • miles from nowhere
    Posted on June 16, 2011 at 11:14am

    Ok, I am impressed can we please move on?

    Report Post »  
  • SpankDaMonkey
    Posted on June 16, 2011 at 11:14am

    .
    Where there is a will……….

    Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
  • cessna152
    Posted on June 16, 2011 at 11:13am

    Government will soon regulate him as well.

    That is AWESOME!

    Report Post » cessna152  
    • biohazard23
      Posted on June 16, 2011 at 11:21am

      Wow. Just… wow. Talk about your can-do attitude!

      And to think that there are millions of lazy SOBs out there who say that they can’t work, they can’t go to school, that life isn’t fair, that the Man is keeping him down, that they‘re entitled to hand outs because they’re (insert excuse here), blah blah blah…..

      Report Post » biohazard23  
    • TexasCommonSense
      Posted on June 16, 2011 at 11:22am

      This is even more impressive considering the recoil of a .45 cal.

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlMz2sCDCA4

      Report Post » TexasCommonSense  
    • Sinista MACE
      Posted on June 16, 2011 at 11:26am

      Takes “Don’t Tread On Me” to an entirely new level.

      Report Post » V-MAN MACE  
    • Chusal
      Posted on June 16, 2011 at 11:32am

      Totally agree….They will say that his doing this is unsafe and we have to protect the “children”. I wonder how did “childern” become a code word for Lazy I Need my Govt. HandOUT. That is why they want to stop motivation. It doesnt come from the Gov’t it comes for indviduals, that is totaly out of line with the socialist mentality.

      Report Post » Chusal  
    • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
      Posted on June 16, 2011 at 11:47am

      Good luck to Matt, that was inspirational.

      Report Post » Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
    • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
      Posted on June 16, 2011 at 11:51am

      “An article was recently published in the Newton Daily News which inaccurately reported that I have been selected to the Olympic Team. I have, in fact, been selected to the Para United States Archery Team as a result of my recent performance at a team trials event. Like many other para archers, I will be trying out for the U.S. Paralympic Team for Archery in early 2012.”
      ——————————————————————————————————————————-
      Hopeful was the correct word to use.

      Report Post » Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on June 16, 2011 at 12:08pm

      Incredible; human will is indomitable when the drive and dream are united.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
      Posted on June 16, 2011 at 12:16pm

      I watched him checking his brakes. God has taught me humility, today.

      Report Post » Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
    • Michael61
      Posted on June 16, 2011 at 12:31pm

      Used to work with 2 computer programmers who had to use their feet working on computer. Playing computer games, writing software… People can do anything.

      Report Post »  
    • elkslayer
      Posted on June 16, 2011 at 2:15pm

      I can see him in a blind harvesting a yummy elk

      Report Post » elkslayer  
    • avenger
      Posted on June 16, 2011 at 7:48pm

      under obama care he would be a gonner…

      Report Post »  

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