Shane Rose says he's fit and ready for Paris Olympics four months after serious training fall
By Amanda ShalalaIn short:
Shane Rose is one of nine athletes selected on Australia's equestrian team for the Paris Olympics.
In March this year he suffered serious injuries in a training accident.
What's next?
Rose will contest his fourth Games when they begin on July 26.
Even the brightest optimist might have struggled to believe that Shane Rose would make it to the Paris Olympics.
At a training camp in March, the 51-year-old fell from his horse, with the 625-kilogram animal landing on him in the accident.
He broke multiple bones all over his body and to some it seemed almost impossible that he'd get back on his horse in time.
"My first discussion with one of my surgeons, he said it'll take me 10 to 12 weeks before I'm walking, and I remember thinking I might need a new doctor," Rose said.
"The doctors from then have been really helpful. They've all been aware of what I've been trying to achieve.
"And they've just helped me pushing the limits to some degree."
While Rose may have defied some medical expectations, he never wavered in his belief that he could recover.
When he woke up in hospital, one of his first questions was, "how long till the Games?"
"And I'm very lucky to have had a great team of people around me," he said.
"I had three doctors, three physios, strength and conditioning guys, from both NSWIS and the AIS to enable me to get back to riding horses again."
Rose has two Olympic silver medals and one bronze from three Games in eventing, and that is part of what drove him in his recovery.
"I'm a competitive person by nature, and I want to be the best in the world," he said.
"We haven't done that yet. That elusive gold medal still out there and hopefully Paris is the one."
ABC Sport will be live blogging every day of the Paris Olympics from July 27
Full recovery
Rose says he's physically and mentally ready.
"I'm 100 per cent on the horse, without a doubt, probably don't walk as well as some people, but I'm an old man, so probably walking is not the best thing anyway.
"I'm 100 per cent fit to go, and ready to compete.
"The mental side of things and speaking to my doctors is a massive part of the process.
"I think that it comes naturally to me to be fairly positive.
"Fortunately it was just bones, and bones heal, and if you're just dealing with a bit of pain, then that's fine."
Hoy misses out
Eight-time Olympian Andrew Hoy, who has been to more Games than any other Australian, wasn't selected as part of the eventing team.
The 65-year-old posted on social media saying, "over all these years in our beloved sport, I have experienced incredible highs and devastating lows, and I would not be the competitive athlete that I am if I wasn't disappointed about my non-selection for the Australian team heading to Paris.
"This chapter of 'Paris 2024' may be closing, but the book isn't finished."
Rose says he understood the selection, considering Hoy was forced to leave his qualification bid until late.
"Unfortunately, had a couple of mistakes at the end and would have been great to have Andrew there with all his experience … but unfortunately, there are other people that have done a better job," Rose said.
And Edwina Tops-Alexander becomes the first Australian showjumper to go to five Games, as part of Australia's first all-female jumping team.