British Olympian Amber Rutter has broken her silence saying she truly believed she ‘did hit that target’ after fans insisted she was robbed of gold in the skeet shooting.
In the closing stages of the tense competition, the 26-year-old was hot on the heels of Chile’s Francisca Crovetto Chadid – eventually drawing a tie.
However after the pair prepared go head-to-head in a shoot-out for gold at the National Shooting Centre pandemonium followed suit.
In her final attempt, Rutter looked to have hit both targets but only one was scored and she promptly appealed for a review.
The controversial decision was then upheld despite TV replays appearing to show that she had made contact with both shots.
British Olympian Amber Rutter has broken her silence saying she truly believed she ‘did hit that target’ after fans insisted she was robbed of gold in the skeet shooting
Pointing out the lack of VAR leaving the decision ‘purely’ in the referee’s hand, she noted that there had been the technology in place in previous competitions over the years
the 26-year-old was hot on the heels of Chile’s Francisca Crovetto Chadid (pictured) but a controversial decision from the referee meant she was denied gold
Amber Rutter’s coach claimed Olympic judges made a ‘big mistake’ after she won a silver medal
Despite VAR technology previously being used in skeet competitions - there was none in place at the 2024 games, meaning Butler had to helplessly watch on as her hopes for gold hung in the balance.
Ultimately Chadid walked away with gold, coming out with a victorious 7 -6 in the shout out and bagging Chile's first ever shooting medal at the games.
The mother and world-class athlete has since spoken out questioning why there was no video replays present at the Olympics as was typical for previous competitions.
'I truly do believe I did hit that target. I definitely saw something come of it and the fact that everyone at home has managed to see that as well,' she told Good Morning Britain.
'It is just sport for you this happens not just in our sport, there are so many other sports where decisions like this have happened.
She added: 'I know that even in that final it wasn't just myself, some of the other athletes felt like they hit targets but we just didn't have the footage to look back on.'
Pointing out the lack of VAR leaving the decision 'purely' in the referee's hand, she noted that there had been the technology in place in previous competitions over the years.
In her final attempt, Rutter looked to have hit both targets but only one was scored
Rutter sensationally became the first Briton to win a skeet medal at the Olympic Games
'I'm not quite sure why we didn't have it at the games, but at the end of the day I am so pleased to come away with a medal of any colour,' she said.
'I just don't want to let that split decision take away from all that hard work that I put in. Not just these last few days but over these last few months.
'There are so many people that have really contribute to this moment and I am not going to let a moment like that take it away from me.'
Rutter became the first Briton to win a skeet medal at the Olympics only three months after giving birth to her child, however fans and her coach are furious she was denied gold.
After taking sixth in her debut at the Olympics in 2016, Rutter missed out on Tokyo three years ago after testing positive for Covid.
On a more positive note, the mother reflected on her joy of unexpectedly seeing her husband and baby after landing second place.
'I have no idea how my husband pulled it off and of course he didn't listen to me,' she said.
'But the fact that my husband didn't listen to me and he did make the journey to Chateauroux to the venue - I am just so pleased that he didn't listen.
The 26-year-old rapidly retuned to action, just three months after giving both to her baby
Rutter became the first Briton to win a skeet medal at the Olympics after missing out on Tokyo three years ago after testing positive for Covid.
She added: 'Because those moments after winning the medal and turning around and seeing him it has just made the whole experience so much better.'
This comes shortly after Rutter's coach claimed that Olympic judges made a 'big mistake' after the Brit was controversially denied gold in the skeet shooting.
Her coach Richard Brickell said that Rutter's attempt was 'clearly a hit' as he bemoaned the costly error by the judges.
'All the coaches knew it was a hit, everyone in the stadium knew it was a hit and everyone at home knew it.' he said.
'Unfortunately, the only people that didn’t were the judges. It’s a big mistake for a very important medal.'
