20 February 2024 , 10:30
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Shane Rose will not be barred from the Paris Olympics despite courting controversy when he wore a mankini during a fancy dress equestrian event in his home country of Australia.
Rose, 50, has won team eventing medals at three separate Summer Olympic Games. He was part of an Australian team that took silver in Beijing in 2008 and at Tokyo 2020, while a bronze came his way in the 2016 Rio games.
The mankini stunt had left him at risk of missing out in 2024, though. He was stood down by Equestrian Australia after a complaint was made, but he has since been cleared of breaching the group's code of conduct.
Rose issued an apology, which has been accepted by Equestrian Australia, and is free to resume his preparations for Paris. Speaking on Australian TV, he said he was pleased common sense had prevailed.
“I wore a costume which you could see at a theme park or a beach," Rose told the Sydney Morning Herald before the decision was reached. "Potentially no one has done it on [a] horse, but there you go.
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“I think I am a good person and I do a lot for the sport, and for people in different situations. I don’t feel like I have done anything particularly bad. In hindsight, I should have rethought what I did but, at the time, I thought it was just a bit of fun.”
Speaking to Channel Nine's 'A Current Affair' on Monday (via The Guardian), he repeated the "bit of fun" line. However, he added: “It’s a nerve-racking time, not knowing, but I was always hopeful that common sense would come to the conclusion we’re at.”
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Shane Rose (left) won silver with Australia at the Tokyo Olympics (BEHROUZ MEHRI/AFP via Getty Images)“Equestrian Australia has an obligation to look into any concerns of this nature that comes from the community,” Equestrian Australia CEO Darren Gocher said in a statement. “Having now thoroughly reviewed the incident and spoken to relevant parties, Equestrian Australia has confirmed that there was no breach of the code of conduct by Shane Rose.
“We take the recommendations on board and will move quickly to ensure the relevant actions are taken. Our sport is made up of wonderful individuals and we have plenty to look forward to in the year ahead.
“Shane has reflected on the incident, has apologised and understands the high standards expected of everyone involved in our High Performance program. With the matter now resolved, Shane and his teammates are now looking forward to continuing to focus their attention on qualifying for Paris.”
The opening ceremony for the Paris Olympics is scheduled for July 26, though some events will begin earlier. The equestrian competition is split into eventing, dressage and jumping, with the former handing out its first medals on July 29.