Triple Olympic medallist Shane Rose is in danger of missing the Paris Games after fracturing his pelvis and leg in a heavy fall from his horse.
The 50-year-old team eventer was rushed to intensive care after a tumble from his horse Virgil during a cross-country session on Thursday.
Rose had all but secured qualification for the Olympics by winning an event in New Zealand last weekend, with his team breaking the news of his accident on social media.
“As the saying goes peacock one day, feather duster the next!” his team said in a Facebook post.
“Thankfully his horse was not injured in the fall. Shane is currently 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.
“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.”
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Rose made headlines last month by wearing a “mankini” costume at a show-jumping event, with a complaint threatening his participation in Paris before he was cleared by Equestrian Australia following an investigation.
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Based in Werombie, west of Sydney, Rose won team silver medals at the 2008 Beijing and 2021 Tokyo Olympics as well as a bronze in Rio in 2016.
However Rose has twice qualified for Games – in 1996 and 2012 – but been unable to compete due to injuries to his horse.