Photo by World Archery
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Paralympic champion Matt Stutzman has been named Archer of the Year and Para Men’s Archer of the Year by World Archery, capping an incredible 2024.
Also, in a career littered with firsts, Stutzman becomes the first para athlete to be named Archer of the Year. Those to have previously won the award include the 2023 World Cup Final winner in the recurve division, Marcus D'Almeida (BRA) and the current compound women's number one, Ella Gibson (GBR).
In claiming compound open gold in Paris, 42-year-old Stutzman became the first armless archer to do so, cementing his legacy not simply within the Paralympic movement but within world archery also.
"When I first picked up a bow, I had no idea the heights it would take me,” Stutzman said. “Archery has changed my life in too many ways to count and I am beyond honored to receive this award. Go Team USA!"
Prior to the Paris Games, Stutzman indicated that retirement from archery would follow whatever unfolded in the French capital. He announced his retirement last month, leaving the sport in a far better place.
Within moments of defeating Ai Xinliang (CHN) for the gold medal, Stutzman was already contemplating the impact of not only his Paris performance but of his career and the path it carved out for others to follow.
“Do you know how many armless archers 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.
“These armless archers are feeling what I felt a long time ago. They’re feeling the joy and the excitement and the passion of being able to compete on the world’s greatest stage and win, against people with arms.”
Stutzman was not the only U.S. archer recognized by World Archery. Sawyer Sullivan received the Breakthrough of the Year award. Among his highlights in 2024 was winning triple gold at the Hyundai Archery World Cup Stage 2 in Korea, triumphing in compound men, compound mixed team (with Olivia Dean) and in the compound men's team competition (alongside James Lutz and Kris Schaff).
"I don't know what to say," Sullivan told World Archery. "I'm super thankful for World Archery for putting these awards on. I think it really helps the sport of archery in getting the sport to other people.
"People ask me what my goal for 2025 is and I don't think you can put a price on getting more people involved in archery."
