SYDNEY : “Australian Horseman ‘Mankini’ Rose Races to Fitness for Paris”, Three-times Olympic medallist Shane Rose has successfully battled back from a series of injuries suffered in a heavy fall in March and was named in Australia’s equestrian team for the Paris Games on Thursday.
The 51-year-old team eventer had already qualified for his fourth Olympics when he fell from his horse during a cross-country session and sustained a broken femur, pelvis, elbow and some broken ribs.
Rose expressed, “For me, it has been a challenging journey to reach this milestone. Being selected is a tremendous relief,” as stated in a team news release.
“I look forward to the challenge and hope to make everyone who has supported me on this journey proud. So many people have contributed to having me 100 per cent fit and ready to perform.”
Rose, who made waves by wearing a “mankini” at a show-jumping event in February, has twice qualified for the Olympics but been unable to compete.
In 1996, his horse went lame on arrival in the United States for the Atlanta Olympics, and in 2012 his mount All Luck suffered a shoulder injury which prevented him from competing at the London Games.
Rose has also battled his way back from several serious injuries to himself over his career, including a kick to the face from a horse in 2006 that left him in a medically-induced coma for a week.
Mounted on Virgil, Rose joins Chris Burton and Kevin McNab in the eventing competition at Versailles from July 27 to 29, aiming to contribute to Australia’s Olympic medal count. Australia has accumulated 14 Olympic medals, including six golds, in various events.
