On Tuesday, October 23, in honor of National Disability Awareness Month, Matt Stutzman, “the Armless Archer” gave a presentation in Anacon Hall at 1:00 pm to talk about his dream to make history. Stutzman, although born without arms, is a Paralympic Silver Medalist.
“Matt Stutzman has taught himself how to do things with his feet such as eating, typing, and changing the diaper of his newborn son,” Heather Kelly, Assistant Director of Student Activates for Multicultural and Diversity Initiatives, said upon introducing the energetic archer onto the stage.
Stutzman, a small man with an infectious smile, told a joke or three about his armless state and the belly hanging over his belt, hurried onto the stage and admitted that he had a confession to make.
“I actually can’t change my son’s diaper,” Stutzman said, feigning embarrassment. “Or wash dishes. Or do the laundry.”
The presentation was not, however, about what Stutzman could not do but rather all that he had managed to accomplish despite his disability. Besides archery, some of these accomplishments include being able to do push ups and hold a gun. Although he is armless, Stutzman is fond of sports and has been described as having an instinct for athletics.
Born in 1982, he was put up for adoption because his parents did not believe they could raise or afford an armless child. At 13 months, he was adopted by the Stutzmans, who claimed that he had chosen them for adoption rather than the other way around. Stutzman described his experience with prosthetic arms as being not only memorable but humiliating as well.
He told an anecdote recounting his five or six year old self trying to hug a girl from class that he liked but the mechanical arms getting in the way and causing him to instead punch her in the face. While he did not find the prosthetic arms to suit him, Stutzman kept them and later discovered that his young son was aware of their existence. A child asked him where his arms were and his son responded for him by saying, “They’re hanging in the garage.”
At the ages 13-14, Stutzman decided he wanted to become a basketball player. When he realized that, while he could dribble a ball with his shoulders, he could not become a member because of his disability, he chose to begin playing soccer. Ironically, he claimed that he had been called for hands while playing.
Stutzman claimed his first encounter with the bow at 16 was unimpressive and not particularly memorable. He explained that he soon lost interest in favor of learning to drive and the bow was stolen. Upon being told that he could not be able to get a driver’s license, Stutzman claimed he felt the real world hit him for the first time and that he would have to figure out how to do things on his own.
It was during this time that Stutzman said he went through a rebellious stage from his anger at the unfairness of his situation, even managing to get arrested. Although, he jokes that they did not handcuff him.
In his determination to be able to use a car, Stutzman refused to drive a modified car, instead spending years taking tests to learn to drive a normal car, including manual cars.
Stutzman’s return to archery was out of necessity rather than recreational at first. In order to provide for his family, Stutzman turned to hunting just three years prior to his participation in the Olympics. He later attended an archery contest with a friend and was approached by a company to advertise their product.
A friend of Stutzman’s had to explain that he was not approached to represent their products because he was a good archer but because “You don’t have arms.”
For two and a half years, Stutzman practiced how to shoot a bow until BP Global offered to sponsor him in the 2012 London Paralympics approached him.
Stutzman said that when he was a child, his dream was to become a soldier and serve his country. When he got older he realized he could not. However, the offer to participate in the Paralympics reminded him of his dream.
“I wanted to represent the United States of America,” Stutzman said.
Stutzman brought home a silver medal from the summer Paralympic games. “What’s great about the silver medal,” Stutzman said, “is that it’s silver.”
Despite his disability, Stutzman remains a positive and grateful individual. “People are always giving me chances,” he said. “I was able to show the world what I am capable of and earn my money to buy my kid’s shoes. I’m off disability.”
Freshman Aanchal Desai and Krista Lucas expressed their enjoyment of Stutzman’s lecture. They claimed that his warm positive attitude was inspiring despite his seemingly difficult situation.
“I think Matt Stutzman’s determination and optimism was incredible,” Victoria Zitaglio, freshman, said. “He proved that nothing is impossible and you shouldn’t waste time pitying yourself. He wasn’t sensitive about his disability at all; he even made jokes about his loss of limbs. Stutzman laughed his difficulties in the face and didn’t let them control his life, like most people would.”
Stutzman said that he owes his success to the support from others. “If it wasn’t for your support, I wouldn’t be able to do what I do.”
