Amber Rutter says she is owed an apology from shooting’s international governing body after she missed out on an Olympic gold medal in Paris.
Rutter had to settle for silver in the women’s skeet final on 4 August after she was judged to have missed a shot, even though television replays appeared to show she had clipped the target.
She and her coach protested at the time, and on Tuesday she again called for a “fair playing field” in her sport – either through improved judging or the use of VAR technology which is present in other shooting competitions run under the auspices of the International Shooting Sport Federation.
Rutter wrote on Instagram that she did not want to get “sucked into the negativity of what could have been” but said she felt compelled to speak out to help “spark change” in her sport.
“I feel like I owe it not just myself but the entire shooting community to highlight and address the matter,” she said on the social media platform. “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.
“At this point in time, I can’t imagine a huge amount will be done, and that is not what I am looking for. However, I do believe some accountability needs to be taken to acknowledge and an apology for the incorrect decision ultimately costing me an opportunity of winning an Olympic gold medal. 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 to myself and I am sure have the same feelings as myself. “This has not taken away anything from my Games, I honestly had no expectations [and] to be completely honest I didn’t believe I would even make it through the first day with the little prep both physically and mentally.
“I am pleased to say that it has shone a brighter light on the Games for me! Now it’s time to be a Mum and a Wife again, enjoy life with a splash of silver.”
The ISSF has been contacted for comment.
