A three-time Olympic medal-winning rider who was sacked after a video emerged of him riding a horse wearing only a mankini has apologized for the brazen stunt but does not believe it was ‘overly offensive’.
Shane Rose, 50, posted the revealing images on Facebook after taking part in a fancy dress competition at the Wallaby Hill Extravaganza in the NSW Southern Highlands last weekend.
The footage showed a delighted Rose wearing only a fluorescent orange mankini, helmet, boots and a cheeky smile on his face as he rode around the arena, much to the amusement of onlookers, including one man who shouted ‘that’s Australian ‘.
However, the stunt ‘offended’ some attendees, prompting a complaint to Equestrian Australia (EA) and Sports Integrity Australia.
The three-time Olympian has withdrawn from further events while an investigation into the incident takes place.
Rose’s hopes of competing in a fourth Olympic Games in Paris and winning that elusive gold medal are now in limbo, having previously won two silvers and bronzes.
Australian equestrian legend Shane Rose has had his Olympic Games hopes in limbo after he was filmed riding a horse in a mankini at an event on February 11 (pictured)
Shortly after EA’s decision, he took to Facebook, apologized for his actions and deleted the video so it could not be “escalated again.”
“If my costumes have offended anyone, I am truly sorry as this was never my intention. “I would like to apologize to anyone I offended,” he wrote.
“I will no longer participate in these types of events to ensure that I do not cause similar problems in the future.
‘I hope that the outcome of the EA assessment will allow me to return to competition and not affect my campaign for the Paris Olympic Games.”
Rose later deleted the statement and released a much shorter message.
“I have no intention of escalating this issue further, so my previous post has been deleted,” he wrote.
Rose currently has three horses qualified for the Paris Olympics and is considered a strong chance to compete in his fourth Games.
“Hopefully it won’t affect me if it goes my way,” he said The Daily Telegraph.
‘In a few days (I hope) we can move on and laugh about it.
“I don’t think I did anything overly offensive. I can understand that others may not feel the same way.”
“I am very focused on my training towards Paris and am confident that the team will develop as a competitive opportunity.”
In a statement released on Sunday, EA said it is committed to enforcing codes of conduct to which Mr Rose is bound and that they are ‘reviewing’ the matter.
“To be clear, Shane has not been suspended or disciplined. As is usual in these circumstances for all elite athletes, he has been withdrawn from competition for a number of days while the assessment is carried out,” the statement said.
‘This process should not take more than a few days and we expect a resolution within the next week.
“Equestrian Australia is committed to supporting our athletes in their Olympic campaign and working with them to achieve their Olympic dreams.”
Having won three medals at three previous Olympic Games, Mr Rose (pictured) cannot appear at any events until an investigation by Equestrian Australia is completed.
After deleting the video from his Facebook, Mr Rose (pictured with his wife Nikki) apologized for his actions and anyone he offended
The decision has shocked the Australian equestrian community.
Many have jumped to Rose’s defense, labeling EA’s statement as “rash and exaggerated.”
A petition on Change.org Objecting to EA’s decision to pull Rose has already attracted nearly 10,000 signatures.
“Shane Rose has dedicated his life to equestrian sports and the equestrian community,” the petition reads.
“He is also one of our most successful athletes.”
The petition also asked for clarity on what rule Mr Rose had broken at the event, stating the outfit was ‘no different to what you’ll see on many an Aussie beach’.
Rose previously competed in the 2008 Beijing, 2016 Rio and 2020 Tokyo Games.
His two silver and one bronze medals were won in team eventing.