Armless Archer wins US National Championship title

London 2012 runner-up and two-time Paralympian Matt Stutzman won the compound men’s title at the US National Target Championships in Westfield, Indiana, beating winds of up to 30mph as well as an experienced field that included World Games medallist Kris Schaff and international medallists Steve Anderson and Bridger Deaton.

“I’m still trying to do the pinch-me moment,” Stutzman said to USA Archery. “I’ve been trying to do this all year and it’s surreal. I know the conditions were really rough but I still felt like I shot really good.”

Stutzman, who was born with no arms, won the silver medal at the London 2012 Paralympics and competed in his second Games in Rio. Prior the 2017 season, he announced he would be focusing on competing in able-bodied and open events with a view to making a US team.

He came close to qualifying for the worlds squad for Mexico City.

The US national titles are awarded over 144 arrows at 50 metres for compound athletes, 70 metres for recurve athletes. Open titles are presented after matchplay.

Brady Ellison, Mackenzie Brown and Paige Gore topped their respective divisions.