It’s a disguise that didn’t pass muster with the Australian Equestrian Federation. At a competition near Sydney last weekend, during which riders were encouraged to wear “original costumes”, three-time Australian Olympic medalist Shane Rose appeared on his horse in a “mankini”. neon orange popularized by the film “Borat”.
This choice earned one of the stars of the Australian equestrian world disciplinary proceedings from Equestrian Australia (EA). “I am sincerely sorry if I offended anyone,” the 50-year-old rider regretted on Facebook. “I hope that the result of the EA examination will allow me to return to competition and will not affect my preparation for the Paris Olympic Games.”
“Don’t do this to Shane”
“Like any high-level athlete, Shane is required to respect the codes of conduct” as well as “the athlete’s agreement,” the Australian federation responded in a press release. “The Australian Equestrian Federation has an obligation to respond to these concerns and is currently examining the matter,” continued the body which, at this stage, has not yet resolved the fate of the rider.
“To be clear, Shane was not suspended or disciplined. As is customary in these circumstances for all high-level athletes, he was excluded from competition for several days, while the examination was completed,” she specifies.
The rider, whose participation in the Paris Games is suspended due to this disciplinary procedure, however received the support of other athletes. Rider Vicki Roycroft denounced “an extremely excessive reaction” and dressage specialist Mary Hanna, present at the Olympic Games continuously since Atlanta 1996, implored in the columns of Sydney Daily Telegraph : “Please EA, don’t do this to Shane.”
Rose won team eventing silver medals with Andrew Hoy at the 2008 Beijing and 2021 Tokyo Olympics, and a bronze at the 2016 Rio Games.
