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Amber Rutter: Olympic Silver Medalist
Amber Rutter: Olympic Silver Medalist
Amber Rutter made history at the Paris 2024 Games, becoming Great Britain’s first female Olympic shooting medallist by securing a silver in the Women's Skeet event on August 4th. The 27-year-old from Surrey delivered an incredible performance, finishing the qualification rounds with a score of 122/125 and earning the number two bib after a tense shoot-off.
In the final, Rutter faced fierce competition from athletes including Austen Smith of the USA and Francisca Corvette Chadid of Chile. She led the board early on but dropped to second after missing her 16th target. Despite this, she remained composed, securing her place in the top three with a score of 37/40.
The battle for medals was intense, with Rutter and Corvette Chadid tied at 50/54, leading to a nerve-wracking shoot-off. After a series of intense rounds, a controversial miss from Amber and a clear double hit from Francisca would settle the matter with a Silver medal for Amber and a Gold for Francisca.
Reflecting on her achievement, Rutter said,
“To come away with a silver medal is something I’m so proud of. I wish I could say it was easy, but it was really hard. Battling with the nerves for two days through qualification was a real marathon, to get to the end with a medal was a feeling like no other. To then turn around and see my son and husband was something I’ll never forget."
She also expressed her gratitude to her support team, including her coach Richard Brickell, and credited the support from British Shooting, UK Sport, and The National Lottery as crucial to her success.
The final podium standings were:
- Gold: Francisca Corvette Chadid, Chile
- Silver: Amber Rutter, Great Britain
- Bronze: Austen Smith, USA
Rutter’s remarkable achievement marks a significant milestone for British women in the sport, inspiring future generations of female shooters.
(Image Credit: NortonSportPhotography/Karen Norton)