Matt Stutzman has defied expectations since he first picked up a bow and arrow with his feet as a child. He was born without arms yet qualified for the London 2012 Paralympic Games in archery on his first attempt. As he now trains for Paris 2024, he wants his three sons to learn that they have to work hard at something if they want to achieve it. 

"I was told at birth that I was never going to be able to do anything on my own, but guess what? I live in a hands-free house — there is nothing in my house that is modified for me," Stutzman shares. "I was told I could never drive a car. I drive a car. I was told I was never going to be an archer. I'm an archer. I was told I'm never going to make the games, and I made them on my first try." 

Stutzman has nearly two decades of parenting under his belt — his three sons are 18, 17 and 12 — and he says the most important thing to do is to lead by example. "I think that sticks with your kids more," he says. "They look up to you even when you're not talking, so I hope they take that whole 'I can do anything' attitude." 

Growing up in a hunting family, he has always felt confident as an archer, but he hasn't always felt confident as a dad. In fact, when he was expecting his first son, Carter, he questioned everything. 

"I was like, 'How am I going to hold the baby? How am I going to change the baby's diaper?'" he admits. "I was paranoid about all these things and it wasn't until the baby was older that I realized that the baby doesn't care, it just wants to be loved. It's all the baby wants. And all the fear is just in the parents, so there's no point in having it." 

After participating in three Paralympic Games and qualifying for yet another, he still says that being there for the births of his sons was better than winning a silver medal in 2012. "That's a memory I will have forever. Yes, I have the memory of making a podium, but at the end of the day, the podium is cool but not as cool as the birth of your kid." 

His advice for soon-to-be and new parents channels the less sentimental and messier side of parenting: "Close your mouth when you're changing a baby's diaper and keep your mouth closed." He says the first time you get peed on is shocking but by the third or fourth time, you realize it's just a part of the experience. "It's like, 'Well, I'm a dad now.'"