Olympic Equestrian Rider Stood Down for Mankini Outfit at Wallaby Hill Extravaganza

Australian equestrian athlete Shane Rose has been stood down from competition after his controversial outfit choice at the Wallaby Hill Extravaganza in Sydney. The three-time Olympic medallist raised eyebrows when he sported a mankini, inspired by the character Borat, at the fancy dress event.

Rose, who has represented Australia at multiple Olympic Games, later apologized and expressed regret for any offense caused by his attire.

Equestrian Australia is currently reviewing the incident following concerns raised about Rose’s outfit, although he has not been suspended from the sport.

During the event, where riders were encouraged to wear costumes, Rose showcased three outfits including a gorilla suit and a Duffman outfit from the Simpsons in addition to the mankini.

Having won multiple Olympic medals, including silver and bronze in eventing, Rose is aiming to compete at the upcoming Paris Games. He remains hopeful that this incident will not impact his preparation for the prestigious event.

In response to the situation, the Chief Executive of Equestrian Australia, Darren Gocher, clarified that Rose has not been sanctioned but has been temporarily stood down from competition as part of the ongoing review process.

Many members of the equestrian community have shown support for Rose, with some criticizing the decision to stand him down and launching campaigns in his defense.