Team GB's Amber Rutter 'so pleased with silver' despite 'controversial' ruling in skeet final without VAR
Updated 05/08/2024 at 17:06 GMT+1
There was high drama in the women's skeet final at the Paris Olympics as Team GB’s Amber Rutter missed out on gold after a shoot-off with Chile’s Francisca Crovetto Chadid. Although there was controversy over the way the final finished, Rutter says she was "so proud" and "having an Olympic medal of any colour is amazing". Rutter won silver just four months after giving birth to son Tommy.
'I believe I hit that target' - Rutter reflects on shooting controversy after winning silver
Video credit: TNT Sports
Team GB’s Amber Rutter says she does not want her silver medal success to be diminished by the VAR controversy that potentially denied her victory in the women’s skeet.
The shoot-off, which sees shooters alternate taking two shots in a sudden-death format, had a controversial conclusion when Rutter was penalised for a miss that she contested, believing she had clipped the clay.
With no VAR system in place, the decision could not be changed and Rutter had to settle for silver.
While Rutter admitted the ruling was “controversial”, she said she was “so pleased” with her performance, especially as it came just four months after she gave birth to her first son.
“Everyone wants the sport to be as fair as possible, but the refs did what they could, they saw what they saw. It’s one of things,” she told Eurosport.
“I am so proud of my performance, I don’t want to let this moment be taken away by a decision like that. I so pleased with silver. Having an Olympic medal of any colour is amazing.
“It definitely was controversial. I have to say I really do believe I hit the target but that’s the way sport goes, it happens in not just shooting, and I know there were other athletes in that final who felt they hit targets and it wasn’t shown.
"We did have a VAR system for previous competitions so I’m not sure where it was for this one, but the competition was so high, it’s just the way sport goes.
“The most I could have done was put my hand up and look to my coach. I was looking for the VAR and I didn’t realise until I was out there that they didn’t have it at this competition.”
Rutter was competing at her second Olympic Games after missing out on Tokyo following a positive Covid-19 test.
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Rutter claims supreme silver following ‘controversial moment’ in dramatic final
Video credit: TNT Sports
After the final, she was greeted with a surprise visit from husband James and son Tommy.
Asked how she has balanced motherhood with training for the Olympics, Rutter said: “It’s definitely had its challenges.
“We are winging it so much! It’s been a whirlwind but my family have been amazing, looking after him while I’ve been training, my husband, the support he has given. It really has been a team effort just to sort this little guy out and make the Olympic dream possible.”
Rutter’s coach Richard Brickell said he felt the “target was clearly a hit” and it was a “sad mistake”.
"It's amazing for British shooting, just at the moment it doesn't feel as good as it should,” he added.
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