Amber Rutter: Team GB silver medallist wants apology for 'incorrect decision' in skeet final at Olympic Games
Published 13/08/2024 at 17:07 GMT
Amber Rutter has asked for an apology from the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) after being denied a gold medal in the women's skeet shooting final at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, with the judges making an "incorrect decision" in her shoot-off with Chilean Francisca Crovetto Chadid. Rutter had taken part in the Games only three months after giving birth.
'I believe I hit that target' - Rutter reflects on shooting controversy after winning silver
Amber Rutter says she wants an apology from the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) after missing out on a gold medal in the women's skeet shooting final at the Paris Olympic Games.
Rutter took home silver on August 4 after it was judged that she missed a shot in her shoot-off with Chile's Francisca Crovetto Chadid, but television replays appeared to show she had hit the target.
The Olympics does not use video technology such as VAR or Hawkeye, and judges decided not to overturn the call when Rutter and her coach protested.
The 26-year-old took to Instagram to express her frustration, saying: "There has been thousands of comments and images shared of me clearly hitting my final shot in the gold medal match shoot off.
"Due to a poor and incorrect decision by all three referees I was denied the opportunity to continue in the shoot off and chance at Olympic Gold."
The Team GB athlete said she did not want to get "sucked into the negativity", but after a flood of online comments and photographic evidence, she decided to speak out.
Rutter claims supreme silver following ‘controversial moment’ in dramatic final
"I feel like I owe it not just myself but the entire shooting community to highlight and address the matter," she added.
"Every athlete, especially at the Games deserves to compete on a fair playing field. Whether that be through experienced and exceptional judging, or new technologies such as VAR which we have always had in place previously at ISSF competitions.
"At this point in time, I can't imagine a huge amount will be done, and that is not what I am looking for.
"However, I do believe some accountability needs to be taken to acknowledge and an apology for the incorrect decision ultimately costing me an opportunity of winning an Olympic gold medal. And furthermore a plan to prevent something like this happening in the future."
Rutter and Crovetto Chadid finished level on 55 shots from 60 targets in the final, meaning they went to a four-round shoot-off to decide gold.
Following the call on Rutter's shot, 34-year-old Crovetto Chadid hit her next two shots to take the win and Chile's first ever shooting gold medal.
Rutter competed in the women's skeet only three months after giving birth to a baby boy.
She added: “This has not taken away anything from my Games, I honestly had no expectations [and] to be completely honest I didn’t believe I would even make it through the first day with the little prep both physically and mentally.
“I am pleased to say that it has shone a brighter light on the Games for me! Now it’s time to be a Mum and a Wife again, enjoy life with a splash of silver.”
The ISSF have yet to make a comment or statement.
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