The gold obtained at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games thrilled all of Chile. Francisca Crovetto, after an infant definition in the skeet shot against the British Amber Rutter, gave the South American country the third gold medal in its history and returned them to an Olympic podium after Fernando González’s silver in the tennis in Beijing 2008. They were 16 years of waiting that ended with the emotion of “Pancha”, singing the Chilean anthem on top of the world.
Originally from San Miguel, a commune in the capital Santiago, Crovetto has a life with the shotgun and shooting. Since she was 3 years old, she accompanied her father, Juan Francisco, to the shooting range where she practiced. According to the same parent, at 11 the now gold medalist already showed interest in being the shooter. And so it was that at the age of 13 she was already competing and exuding precision.
Her Olympic path was long until she reached gold in Paris. These are the fourth Olympic Games for Crovetto’s career, who before these Games already had Pan American Games to her credit, a prominent presence in world cups, finals and even the world record by completing 125 hits in the same number of shots in the World Cup of Lonato, Italy, in 2022.
In London 2012, Francisca finished in eighth place and in Rio 2016 she finished 17th. In Tokyo 2020 she had the honor of being the Chilean flag bearer, but in the competition she only finished in 23rd place. Already in 2024 her story would be tinged with gold: with the first place obtained in Paris, she also became the only Chilean woman to get the most desired medal. Previously, her country had only won two golds in history, both with a common name: Nicolás Massú, historic for having won the tennis singles and doubles with Fernando González in Athens 2004.
Crovetto would arrive 20 years after rewriting history. To join the golden pages and continue contributing to Chilean sport. She does it not only from the shooting range, but also as an important and leading figure in the Group of High Performance Athletes of Chile.
Francisca Crovetto went down in history in Paris. Her face of disbelief after breaking the two plates that gave her the gold, the closed applause of her family and friends in the stands, and the exciting Chilean anthem being sung at the Olympic Games after 20 years, place her in a place of greatness for a country that has only won 14 medals in its entire history. Your name, from now on, must be written in gold letters.
