British shooter Amber Rutter announces she will be going for gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics - just three months after the former world No 1 is due to give birth

  • Amber Rutter missed the Tokyo Olympics after testing positive for coronavirus 
  • The 26-year-old GB is expecting her first baby with husband James in April
  • The former world No 1 finished sixth at the Rio Olympics in 2016, aged 18

British shooter Amber Rutter has announced she plans to go for gold at the Paris Olympics – just three months after she is due to give birth.

The former world No 1, who missed Tokyo 2020 after testing positive for Covid, is expecting her first baby with husband James in the middle of April.

However, Rutter – née Hill - hopes to resume training six weeks later and be on the plane to Paris, having already secured Team GB’s spot in the women’s skeet shooting event.


‘When I found out I was pregnant, instantly the fingers started going to work out how long I had until the Olympics,’ the 26-year-old told the BBC.

‘I know people are going to think I'm stupid for what I'm doing and the time frame that I've given myself. But it's my life and I just want to be happy with the choices that I make.

GB shooter Amber Rutter says she is aiming for gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics this summer

GB shooter Amber Rutter says she is aiming for gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics this summer

The 26-year-old has already secured Team GB's spot in the skeet shooting event in Paris

The former world No 1 is expecting her first baby with her husband James in the middle of April

The former world No 1 is expecting her first baby with her husband James in the middle of April

‘I'd say it's 90 per cent of being really calm and excited and just like, “Whatever, we're just going to see how it goes”. And then there's that 10 per cent going, “What the hell have I let myself in for?”.

‘I have that winner's drive in me. I'm going there for gold. But I've got so much to come home to as well, and that is so rewarding.

‘When I'm there, it will be the winning mindset that I want to come away with that medal and just do myself and my family proud.’

Rutter has competed at one Olympics before, finishing sixth at Rio 2016 as an 18-year-old. She was world No 1 ahead of the delayed Games in Tokyo before she tested positive for Covid the night before she was due to fly.

Rutter said that her 'winners drive' would spur her on to go for gold at the Paris Olympics

Rutter said that her 'winners drive' would spur her on to go for gold at the Paris Olympics 

Rutter has competed at one Olympics before, finishing sixth at Rio 2016 when she was 18

Rutter has competed at one Olympics before, finishing sixth at Rio 2016 when she was 18

After missing out on the Tokyo Games, Rutter said she was 'ready to quit shooting altogether'

After missing out on the Tokyo Games, Rutter said she was 'ready to quit shooting altogether'  

‘I was ready to quit shooting altogether,’ she added. ‘I resented the sport and what happened so much, and I thought, “You know what, I'm just going to focus on myself”.

‘But now I have found that work-life balance which I think it's very easy in sport to neglect.’