Everything clicked into place for Amber Rutter as she embraced her three-month-old son, Tommy, and placed the silver medal around his neck.
Only a few weeks post-delivery, securing any spot on the Olympic podium was an incredible achievement, yet a sense of disappointment lingered about what might have been.
The Team GB marksman successfully hit 183 out of 193 targets in the women’s skeet event, with each clay fragmenting into little bits and dissipating in a cloud of pink smoke.
In a tense shootout, she grazed her final clay, but it failed to explode. Rutter raised her hand to contest the ruling, but the judges deemed it a miss, and the gold went to her competitor from Chile.
At 34, Francisca Crovetto Chadid made history as the first woman from Chile to clinch an Olympic gold medal.
Everything clicked into place for Amber Rutter as she embraced her three-month-old son, Tommy
Only a few weeks post-delivery, securing any spot on the Olympic podium was an incredible achievement
Team GB marksman successfully hit 183 out of 193 targets in the women’s skeet event
“I genuinely think I hit it, and I’ve heard from multiple competitors that I did,” reflected the 26-year-old from Windsor, who discovered that video replay technology had been eliminated for the Olympics.
“It’s crucial for sports to utilize such technology. It’s accessible, so we must take advantage of it,” she stated.
“Previously, I competed with it in place; I’m unsure why it isn’t being utilized in the Olympics.”
“I turned around immediately to find my coach to discuss appealing the decision.”
“Viewers at home can see the discrepancies, which surely raises questions about the judges’ call.”
“But that’s the unpredictable nature of sports; there are countless moments where things don’t unfold as expected.”
The controversy over the absence of video technology extends beyond football’s VAR system. In shooting, concerns have been raised regarding accuracy, yet Rutter fell victim to the judges’ visual oversight. There was no option for an appeal, and the ruling was conclusive. She expressed her dismay, watching the fairytale of her Olympic victory fade away.
Rutter’s coach, Richard Brickell, found it difficult to maintain his composure.
“It was clearly a hit,” he asserted. “All the coaches recognized it as such, everyone in the arena knew it, and the viewers at home understood it, too.”
In a tense shootout, she grazed her final clay, but it failed to explode
Rutter crafted her training regimen around her role as a mother, adjusting her body for the heavy recoil of her shotgun
Francisca Crovetto Chadid made history as the first woman from Chile to clinch an Olympic gold medal
“Unfortunately, the only ones who were not aware were the judges. This should never occur,” she expressed.
“This is monumental, and it’s disappointing to have such an oversight. The focus on Olympic medals, particularly gold, defines sponsorship and more. This will have consequences, but we will still celebrate the silver.”
Rutter’s training strategy was designed around her duties as a mother, adapting her physique to manage the 100kg recoil of her 12-gauge shotgun. She focused on rehabilitating her pelvic floor post-childbirth while strengthening her arms and shoulders.
The bright orange clays fly at speeds exceeding 60mph, and Rutter, akin to a skilled marksman, took them out with precision.
As the competition reached a nerve-wracking tie break, Rutter’s destiny ultimately lay beyond her control.
“I wish I could say it was an easy process, but it was incredibly challenging,” she mentioned. “Contending with those nerves for two days feels like running a marathon in this sport.”
“When you finally reach the end and secure a medal, it’s an indescribable feeling. Then, seeing my son there with my husband was an unexpected surprise.”
“I had told my family, ‘Don’t come, I need to focus, and hearing Tommy cry would distract me.’”
“While I know Tommy likely won’t remember this, it will be a memorable moment for me and for my husband, James.”
“I hope we can communicate to other mothers that life continues after having a baby. Achieving this silver medal makes me immensely proud of my performance, and I refuse to let a missed target overshadow this moment.” She honored her late grandfather, Bill, who initially introduced her to the sport.
He accompanied her to the Rio 2016 Games, but sadly passed away from cancer the subsequent year.
Rutter missed the Tokyo Olympics after failing a Covid test the day before her departure to Japan
She focused on rehabilitating her pelvic floor post-childbirth, while strengthening her arms and shoulders
The bright orange clays fly at speeds exceeding 60mph, and Rutter, akin to a skilled marksman, took them out with precision
After missing the Tokyo Olympics due to a positive Covid test right before her flight to Japan, Rutter finally achieved her dream yesterday.
“Even during my grandfather’s illness, he would follow along on his iPad, regardless of where I was,” Rutter shared.
“He was also a shooter. His greatest wish was to see me win an Olympic medal, and while he may not be here with us physically, I know he’s watching over me. This one’s for him, too.”
