Mankini gate: Olympian Shane Rose stood down for competing in a ...

19 Feb 2024

SBS

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Mankini gate Olympian Shane Rose stood down for competing in a

Veteran Australian Olympian show-jumper Shane Rose has been stood down from competition after wearing a mankini during an event at Wallaby Hill, near Sydney.

Key Points

Shane Rose has been stood down from competition after wearing a mankini during a showjumping event.
Equestrian Australia is reviewing the matter after concerns were raised about Rose's attire.
Rose won team eventing silver at the 2008 and 2020 Olympics and bronze in 2016.

Three-time Olympic medallist Shane Rose has been stood down from competition after wearing a mankini during a showjumping event.

The 50-year-old, who hopes to represent Australia at the Paris Games later this year, has apologised for any offence caused by his outfit choice at Wallaby Hill, near Sydney, last weekend.

Equestrian Australia is reviewing the matter after concerns were raised about Rose's attire, but insisted he has not been suspended.

Equestrian Australia chief executive Darren Gocher said a complaint was made about how Rose was dressed and that there were children at the event. Source: Supplied / Bill Dewar

Riders were encouraged to wear fancy dress for the event.

Rose sported three outfits: a gorilla suit, a Duffman outfit from the Simpsons and the mankini, a skimpy swimwear item popularised by Sacha Baron Cohen's comedy character Borat.

"I took part in this fancy dress competition with the aim of providing light-hearted entertainment for those in attendance," Rose wrote in a Facebook post, which was later deleted.

"If my costume/s offended anyone I am truly sorry as this was never my intention. I would like to apologise to anyone that I offended."

Rose won team eventing silver at the 2008 and 2020 Olympics and bronze in 2016. Source: Facebook / Shane Rose

Rose won team eventing silver at the 2008 and 2020 Olympics and bronze in 2016.

He said he hoped the incident would not affect his Olympic preparation, while expressing a desire for the situation to be resolved quickly.

"With a bit of luck this will all be a bit of a laugh in a few days and we can all move on," he told the Sydney Morning Herald.

"In hindsight, I should have re-thought what I did but, at the time, I thought it was just a bit of fun."

Equestrian Australia chief executive Darren Gocher said a complaint was made about how Rose was dressed and that there were children at the event.

"Whether it is one (complaint) or 1,000, we have an obligation to review it," he said.

"He hasn't been sanctioned, he hasn't been suspended. He has been stood down from competition while we review and we have committed to getting the review done this week."

Many members of the equestrian community were not impressed with Rose being stood down, with some changing their Facebook profile pictures to Borat in a show of solidarity.