Jackie Chan stunned after watching Matt Stutzman live: “It’s amazing”

Oscar-winning actor Jackie Chan witnessed the charm of para archery on Friday afternoon.

A drizzly day wasn’t an excuse as he sat under his umbrella to watch Matt Stutzman‘s opening match at the Paris 2024 Paralympics.

“I came specially for you,” he said when they met after the 41-year-old defeated fellow armless archer Victor Sardina Viveros of Mexico.

Chan said he visited the venue at the foot of the Hotel des Invalides to see live the performance of the armless archery pioneer. 

And he was enthralled.

“It’s an exceptional experience. I’m for the first time at the Paralympics.”

“Every time I see the para athletes do something special, I ask myself if I should work harder. They are not ordinary people.”

“They had to work 10 times more than us.”

After the win, Stutzman left the field and went straight to meet the Hollywood star.

“I got a message a few days ago [saying] ‘how would you feel about meeting Jackie Chan?’ And I was like... that would be awesome, but I didn’t want to get my hopes upon that. And then suddenly he said Jackie Chan was here! I couldn’t believe it!”

Another memory at this, probably Stutzman’s last Games.

“I’ll never forget this day! This has been the Paralympics of memories for me. My family was in the stands for the first time, and I met Jackie Chan,” he said.

“I’m blown away by the memories I’ve made in a short time,” Stutzman barely found the words.

The two legends warmly greeted, joked, mentioned the movies that Chan starred in and posed for numerous photos.

The famous actor, awarded with an Honorary Oscar in 2016, surprised the armless archer with gifts. And asked him for an autograph! 

Chan tried to pull back Stutzman’s bow, too – but not with his feet.

“I carried the bow, and it was so heavy. I took it for the first time. He can do such things. It’s amazing for me,” Jackie said.

“That part is going to take a little to sink in that he admired me,” Stutzman admitted. 

“It’s funny because I know quite a bit about Jackie Chan. Where he came from, how he grew up, how he ended, what he did before he made the life. It’s kind of similar to my motivation.”

And despite the countless famous stunts that won him an Honorary Oscar – he’s never shot a bow with his feet.

“Oh! You know, if somebody asked me to do this, I would practice! If you need me to do that, I would definitely do!” 

If he did want to give it a go… he knows who to ask for advice.

But for now, let’s leave it to the experts. Stutzman’s one match down but still four away from the Paralympic title.

“I feel like I’ve won! It’s like being in heaven,” he claimed.

“Dreams are coming true!”

Stutzman’s final matches come on Sunday, but the archery competition in Paris continues with W1 and compound women’s finals tomorrow.