Selection for a fourth Olympics is a massive achievement for any athlete, but for equestrian Shane Rose, it has extra meaning.
In a tumultuous 2024 the eventer was suspended from the sport for a costume choice, and then spent time in intensive care after a horrific fall that left him with multiple broken bones.
It’s been a race against time to make Paris, where he is vying for a fourth Olympic Eventing medal on mount Virgil.
Eventing in Paris is being staged at Château de Versailles and consists of three disciplines: Dressage, Cross Country and Jumping.
Shane says the proximity of his accident, in March, to the Olympic competition brought many challenges, but a desire to return to the Games spurred his quest.
“I certainly feel like I have unfinished business,” he says.
“The determination to get back, I've always got that. Being so close to the Games, I worked extra hard. I had one shot. If I had a setback, if I got on too soon and re-injured something, then that's it. There's no second chances.”
Rose’s recovery has been remarkable.
The fall, in which his 550kg horse also landed upon him, broke 18 bones and landed him in intensive care.
The road back to fitness included three to four physical therapy sessions a day, and learning how to walk again.
However, before the accident, Shane’s Olympic goal was jeopardised by a unique stunt.
His choice to wear a mankini at an fancy dress event in February saw Equestrian Australia temporarily stand Shane down from the team after an anonymous complaint from an unknown attendee in the crowd.
News of the incident and suspension spread globally, making headlines in major international news publications.
“It just went crazy,” Shane says.
“I was in the New York Times and CNN. I had an interview with the BBC and I'm listening before and they're talking about what's happening in the Gaza Strip, what's happening in Russia and the Ukraine war.
“And then in lighter news, ‘a man in Australia wears a mankini’. It just blew my mind how crazy it went and how quickly it went.”
Shane apologised for the incident and was reinstated by Equestrian Australia. This allowed him to continue his Paris qualification events until his accident a few weeks later.
Shane is joined on the Eventing team by Kevin McNab and Chris Burton, who are both competing at their second Games.
Between them they have a total of five Olympic medals. Shane won silver medals in 2008 and 2020 and bronze (2016). McNab secured silver (2020) and Burton bronze (2016).
All of Australia’s 14 Olympic Equestrian medals have come in the Eventing, with the team winning medals in every Olympics but two since 1992.
In Paris, men and women compete together, with Team and Individual medals awarded in the three equestrian disciplines: Dressage, Eventing and Jumping.
The Eventing Team Dressage will be held at the Château de Versailles on 27 July at 5.30pm (AEST).
This article was originally written for The Australian Olympic Team. You can read the published version here
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