Olympic athlete who raped British girl weeps in interview after Paris games
www.mirror.co.uk
Steven van de Velde, who was jailed for raping a 12 year old girl in 2014, was allowed to compete in the Paris Olympics and has now spoken out on the controversy

Van de Velde was booed and jeered while competing at the Games. Dutch Olympic officials went to lengths to protect him from the press during the event.

He has now opened up to Dutch publication NOS about his experience, admitting that while he anticipated backlash, the intensity of it took him by surprise. "I definitely had a moment of breaking down, both before the tournament and during it. But I thought ‘I’m not going to give others the power to bully me away or get me away’.

  • hikaru755@lemmy.world
    271·
    il y a 3 mois

    we’re going to ostracize you from society forever

    That is very different from simply not wanting him to be a representative for his country and potential role model for aspiring athletes in one of the biggest media events of the world though. Being welcomed back as a member of society is one thing, but there is a point to be made about expecting more of Olympic athletes than your average member of society.