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Amber Rutter wants shooting to implement a permanent VAR-style system after being dramatically denied an emotional gold medal in a hugely controversial Olympic final.
The Team GB star, who made a miraculous comeback to compete in Paris after giving birth to her first child just three months ago, won skeet silver in Chateauroux as Francisca Crovetto Chadid grabbed gold.
But the heart-thumping shoot-off was marred in controversy as Rutter, 26, was adjudged to have missed one of her final targets despite television replays suggesting she hit it.
That opened the door for red-hot Chilean Crovetto to prevail in a spicy battle and despite Rutter’s protests, the experienced 34-year-old edged over the line.
Rutter, who was forced to miss the Tokyo Olympics after testing positive for Covid-19, was visibly emotional at the end of the gripping battle – watched by an aggrieved television audience back home – as she was greeted by a surprise visit from her husband James and new baby Tommy.
She firmly believes she hit the target in question and urged shooting bosses to permanently introduce the technology that was used at the recent European Championships – but not the Olympics.
“I truly believe that it did hit, but this is sport for you,” said Rutter, who beat American Austen Jewell Smith to silver.
“It’s all swings in roundabouts and it’s just one of those things that you have to live with.
“But to come away with a silver medal anyway is something that I’m so proud of, and I didn’t even think would be possible.
“[VAR] is something that we did have – the last time I competed, it was there, so I’m not quite sure where it’s gone.
“I think it’s so important in sport because it’s moments like these that you want the true result and the fact that viewers at home can see it, I’m sure they will be asking questions about how the refs haven’t seen that.
“But this is the way sport goes. It is a real shame but hopefully the next time they will see it.
“I believed we would have it here and that’s why I instantly turned to my coach to ask whether we had appealed it.
“I didn’t realise it wasn’t here – it’s so important that sport has the technology like this because it’s accessible so we should be using it.”
Richard Brickell, Rutter’s coach who represented Team GB at both Athens 2004 and London 2012, corroborated her grievances and took aim at the unjust outcome after such a bitter pill to swallow.
He said: “We felt like that target was clearly a hit.
“All of the coaches with me said yes it was a hit, the whole stadium said it was a hit and everybody at home saw it as a hit.
“Unfortunately the only person that didn’t see it as a hit were the three judges, so it’s tough. This is as big as it gets and it’s a sad mistake.
“That’s something we’ve got to process now – but celebrate the fact that Amber’s got a silver medal.
On the introduction of VAR, he added: “Maybe this will start the discussion, hopefully. Because this shouldn’t happen really.
“It’s amazing for British shooting – just at the moment it doesn’t feel as good as it should.”
Rutter, whose story also includes her grandad – who first got her into shooting – passing away after her Rio Olympic debut, remained firmly upbeat as she was greeted by her husband and new baby at the end of her nerve-jangling battle.
James, an engineer, had hopped on a flight from Heathrow on Saturday night before navigating his way to salubrious Chateauroux – located almost 300km south of Paris – to surprise the new mum-of-one.
Rutter, whose spirits looked significantly lifted as soon as she spotted them after the controversy, said: “I had no idea he was coming, so the fact that I was able to celebrate with him is a moment in time that I’ll certainly remember.
“Just being part of the club, being an Olympic medallist and a mum at the same time, feels so inspirational and I just hope that we can really share the message to other mums how important it is that your life doesn’t stop after having a baby.”
Watch every moment of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 live only on Discovery+, the streaming home of the Olympics
