- Penny Smith was prohibited from sporting her signature boots
- The Australian trap shooter reached the finals at the Olympic Games
- She had to replace her boots with a pair of high-tops
While these boots are ideal for shooting, they weren’t allowed at the Olympics.
Penny Smith, the Australian trap bronze medalist, faced an unexpected dilemma just two days ahead of her event in Chateauroux, south of Paris.
The 29-year-old from Bookaar, Victoria, has always donned her boots, which have become part of her identity.
While chatting with her brother, a competition official informed Smith that she could not wear her beloved boots during the Games.
As team personnel worked to address the surprising ruling, Smith ventured multiple times to seek a suitable replacement.
Ultimately, she chose a pair of hi-tops, swapping out the white laces for lime-green ones to coordinate with her team outfit.
‘It’s their call and I can’t alter it… we went out and bought a pair of sneakers,’ she said following her medal win.
‘Many folks were saying, ‘Hey, you’re not in your boots, what’s going on?’
Penny Smith was told to lose her favourite item of clothing before the trap shooting final
Australian star Smith took home the bronze medal in the final on Wednesday
‘I just had to adapt as best as I could. I’m extremely grateful… but my boots will return soon.
‘This has never been an issue before in our World Cup events. There’s clearly a dress code and protocols they need to adhere to. At first, it was a shock, but I realized we needed to regroup quickly.’
As Smith discussed her cherished Timberland boots and the unexpected Nike substitutes, the Australian team staff shifted uncomfortably in the backdrop.
The Australian Olympic team has a sponsorship with Asics.
Smith also emphasized that her choice of footwear isn’t just a personal preference—it’s crucial for her performance.
‘It genuinely matters… it’s about your stability, it aids in your shooting. That’s my persona – Penny Smith, the one who wears the boots,’ she remarked.
But she was told she could not wear her favourite boots, so wore trainers instead
Footwear wasn’t the sole concern, as high temperatures plagued competitors over the two-day event, compounded by a septic tank being emptied at a crucial moment during Smith’s competition.
Nevertheless, she managed to secure a significant improvement over her sixth-place finish in the same event at the Tokyo Games.
Cycling gold medalist Grace Brown hails from the same region, yet Smith clarified – she is from Bookaar, with a population of 159, not nearby Camperdown.
‘The support back home has been incredible. Our town will be absolutely buzzing,’ Smith expressed.
