Amber Rutter Demands Apology After Skeet Final Controversy

Amber Rutter from Great Britain has called for accountability and an apology following a controversial end to the women’s skeet final at the Paris Olympics. Rutter, 26, found herself tied with Chile’s Francisca Crovetto Chadid after three rounds of the four-round shoot-off. However, a contentious decision by the referees, who ruled that Rutter missed a shot that slow-motion replays seemed to show she actually hit, led to her losing the chance to compete for gold.

At the Olympics, the shooting events do not use a video assistant referee (VAR) or a similar system, and the judges did not change their decision despite Rutter’s protests. She expressed her frustration over what she termed a “poor and incorrect decision” by the referees which she believes unfairly denied her a chance at the gold medal. On Instagram, Amber Rutter shared her disappointment, stating that numerous comments and images show she clearly hit her final shot in the shoot-off.

She emphasized that every athlete deserves a fair competition, especially at the Olympic level. Rutter acknowledged that while she does not expect immediate changes, she believes that accountability is necessary. She called for an acknowledgment and an apology for the incorrect decision, which she feels cost her the opportunity to win Olympic gold. Additionally, she advocated for implementing measures to prevent similar issues in future competitions.

Despite the setback, Crovetto Chadid went on to secure Chile’s first-ever shooting gold medal by hitting both her subsequent shots in the shoot-off. The International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) and International Olympic Committee (IOC) have been contacted for comments on the matter.