Francisca Crovetto returns Chile to the top of the Olympic podium

Francisca Crovetto, 34 years old, gave Chile its third Olympic gold medal / Photo: COCh Press

Shooter Francisca Crovetto won the gold medal in skeet at the Paris 2024 Games on Sunday, Chile’s third Olympic title in history.

Until now, only tennis had led Chilean sport to the top of the podium, with the gold medals won by Nicolás Massú in singles and by Massú himself and Fernando González in doubles in Athens 2004.

Crovetto beat British Amber Jo Rutter in a thrilling tiebreaker after a tie at 55-55 on the Chateauroux shooting range.

Owner of bronze

Bronze went to American Austen Jewell Smith, with 45.

Crovetto, a 34-year-old shooter from San Miguel, has finally found the reward for her long career, after qualifying for four Olympic Games.

She finished eighth at London 2012, nineteenth at Rio 2016 and twenty-third at Tokyo 2020.

‘Fran’, a gunfighter since she was 13, wanted to be an Olympian ever since she saw Massú and González win their medals in Athens 2004. She became their successor as Olympic champion.

Chile inaugurated its account

This is Chile’s first medal at these Games.

Chile was one of the participating countries in the first Games in modern history, Athens 1896. Since then it has won 14 medals: four in tennis, three in boxing, two in athletics, equestrian and shooting, and one in football.

Paris / EFE