Matt Stutzman, a four-time Paralympian from Fairfield, Iowa, won his first Paralympic gold medal in archery Sept. 1 in Paris, France.

Stutzman previously won silver at the 2012 Paralympics in London, England.

Born without arms, he uses his legs and feet for most activities, including driving and hunting.

Stutzman was adopted at 13 months by Leon and Jean Stutzman. At the time, the couple lived in Kansas and sought adoption through social services.

While waiting for that to materialize, Leon became a registered nurse and studied for a degree in nursing at Bethel College in North Newton. He later worked as a teacher and principal at Pathway Christian School and was a pastor at Fairview Mennonite Church in Kalona, Iowa.

The Stutzmans pushed their son to be independent.

“I know that I was created without any arms for a reason,” he said in 2016 to Mennonite World Review. “God has plans for me, and that’s shooting archery. . . . When you listen to God and he tells you this is the path you need to be on, it usually works out for the best.”