Australian showjumper Shane Rose says he has been inundated by supporters of his mankini attire at a recent event.
“It’s been an amazing response,” he told 1News today.
The three-time Olympic medallist has been stood down from competition for several days pending an Equestrian Australia review into his mankini attire.
At a fancy-dress event at Wallaby Hill, Rose wore an orange mankini while riding a horse, leading to a complaint, a review and — we are now told — an outpouring from many mankini supporters.
Shane Rose told 1 News he’s “comfortable" with what he did and the response has been “amazing.”
“People I don’t even know are dressing up in homemade mankinis and supporting me on the internet,” Rose said.
He said the act wasn't as risque at it might have appeared. To assure he had full protection, Shane said he put a cap on his “downstairs” and strapped it with electrical tape.
“People choose to wear the G-string. It’s not for me. It’s my first try, [I] didn’t like it, liked it even less on a horse — probably not going to be wearing one in the near future,” he said.
Equestrian Australia said Rose had not been suspended or sanctioned but he had been stood down from competition while the review was carried out.
“I haven’t had anyone but this one lady complain, so hopefully the panel comes to the same opinion of the rest of the world — that it was all a bit of fun and maybe we’re taking it all a bit too seriously,” Rose said.
The letter of complaint was sent to the Australian Sports Commission, Sport Integrity Australia, the Australian Olympic Committee, and Equestrian Australia.
“I’m hoping they’ll have a resolution in the coming days, I’m very much focused on preparing myself and my horse for Paris, and hopefully that’s not interrupted with any sanctions,” Rose said.
The Australian show jumper said he would be coming to New Zealand to compete in a couple of weeks but would most likely leave the mankini at home.
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