Team GB shooter Amber Rutter has demanded an apology for the controversial judges’ call that cost her an Olympic gold medal.
Rutter had to settle for silver when she was ruled to have missed a crucial shot in the women’s skeet final even though television replays showed her clipping the target.
The 26-year-old admitted she didn’t want to get ‘sucked into the negativity of what could have been’ but felt compelled to call for a ‘fair playing field’ and the introduction of VAR technology that’s not used in the Olympics but is commonplace in other shooting competitions.
‘There have been thousands of comments and images shared of me clearly hitting my final shot,’ Rutter wrote on Instagram on Monday. ‘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.
‘I feel like I owe it not just myself but the entire shooting community to highlight and address the matter. 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.’
Team GB shooter Amber Rutter has demanded an apology for the controversial judges’ call
Rutter was tied with Chile's Francisca Crovetto Chadid finished level on 55 shots from 60 targets in the final, resulting in a shoot-off to decide the Olympic champion.
The pair were level after three rounds of the four-round shoot-off only for Rutter’s final shot to be ruled out despite slow-motion replays showing a fragment of the target flying off after being hit.
‘At this point in time, I can't imagine a huge amount will be done, and that is not what I am looking for,’ Rutter added. ‘However, I do believe some accountability needs to be taken to acknowledge and an apology for the incorrect decision and furthermore a plan to prevent something like this happening in the future.
‘There were multiple occasions through the final day where other shooters had a similar experience and I am sure have the same feelings as myself.
‘I hope to use this platform I have right now to try and spark change in our sport. We are at an elite level and these mistakes I believe should not even be a possibility. I hope we can work together, athletes, coaches, officials to create something better.’
The IOC have been contacted for comment.
Amber Rutter's coach claimed Olympic judges made a 'big mistake' after she won a silver
Meanwhile, UK Sport chair Dame Katherine Grainger insists our disappointing medal haul in Paris will not shape the funding for the next Olympics in Los Angeles.
GB won 14 golds in Paris, their lowest return for 20 years as they finished outside the top five in the medal table for the first time since Athens in 2004.
UK Sport distributes The National Lottery's funding between sports and Grainger said ‘a very different model of investment’ was in place for Los Angeles 2028.
Former Olympic gold medal-winning rower Grainger said: ‘There's an absolute assumption by everyone, understandably, that funding is decided on the back of results. Almost like you'll be rewarded if you do well and punished if you don't do well.
‘It's a very different model of investment now. All the sports have been told a suggested amount already, pre-Games.
‘So the results in Paris are of use and of interest, but will not be directly affecting the funding going forward.
‘It's all about future potential. So even if a sport wasn't successful at these Games, if the conversation has been had, that actually in LA it could be successful for a very good reason, then the finances will be secured.’