SYDNEY – Australia's three-time Olympic medallist Shane Rose was seriously injured in a heavy fall this week that could end his hopes of competing in a fourth Summer Games in Paris later in 2024.
The 50-year-old team eventer and his horse Virgil all but secured qualification for the Olympics by winning an event in New Zealand last weekend but fell during a cross-country session on March 14.
“As the saying goes, peacock one day, feather duster the next!” his team said in a Facebook post on March 15. “Thankfully, his horse was not injured in the fall. Shane is in ICU with a badly broken femur and a fractured pelvis and ribs. He also suffered a heavy concussion. Shane had surgery this morning to stabilise the femur and pelvis.”
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.
“While the timing is unfortunate, we are hopeful there is adequate time for him to recover and still be able to continue his preparation schedule for the Paris Olympics Games,” his team said.
Despite his past misfortune, Rose won team silver medals at the 2008 Beijing and 2020 Tokyo Olympics as well as a bronze in Rio in 2016.
Rose’s ambitions to compete in Paris were also jeopardised in February, when he was stood down after a complaint was made to Equestrian Australia (EA) about him wearing a fluorescent orange G-string inspired by the comedy film Borat at a fancy dress event.
It took place at a competition where riders were encouraged to wear costumes. But the governing body opted not to punish him after a groundswell of public support and global headlines.
The eventing competition at the 2024 Olympics will take place at Versailles from July 27 to 29.
REUTERS, AFP
