Olympic little one rapist Steven Van de Velde sobs in first interview
Convicted child rapist Steven Van de Velde has sobbed in his first interview since the Paris 2024 Olympics where he was booed and jeered for his crimes when competing for the Netherlands at beach volleyball.
The 30-year-old, who served just one year of a four-year sentence for raping a 12-year-old girl, has spoken for the first time since his controversial participation at this summer’s Games.
He was found guilty of three counts of raping the child in Milton Keynes in 2014 but was selected because he was granted early release from prison and judged by national selectors to have paid his dues.
But the beach volleyball player did not get a warm reception whilst competing in the French capital and was eliminated at the round of 16 stage with partner Matthew Immers on August 4.
Nine days after his exit from the tournament, Van de Velde told a Dutch newspaper that he considered skipping the Olympics entirely and shockingly criticised the media for their reporting of the case.
Convicted child rapist Steven Van de Velde has sobbed in his first interview since the Paris 2024 Olympics where he was booed and jeered by spectators
Van De Velde (pictured with teammate Matthew Immers during the Paris Olympics) was found guilty of three counts of raping a 12-year-old in Milton Keynes in 2014, yet competed this summer because he was granted early release from prison
Van de Velde spoke to the media during a press conference at the European Beach Volleyball Championships in The Hague on Tuesday
The Dutch volleyball player (pictured during Netherland’s Olympic preliminary Pool B game vs Norway) served just one year of a five-year sentence for raping a 12-year-old girl
He told the newspaper: ‘I definitely thought about it, yes. I did something wrong, ten years ago. I have to accept that.
‘But hurting people around me – whether it’s Matthew, my wife, my child… that just goes too far for me.
‘That’s definitely a moment where I thought, is this worth it?’
Van de Velde was sentenced to four years in prison in 2016 after pleading guilty to raping a 12-year year-old British girl in August 2014 when he was 19.
The Dutchman had travelled from Amsterdam to the UK and raped the girl at a house in Milton Keynes.
Despite being told by a judge that his conviction was ‘career ending’, van de Velde resumed his volleyball career after serving just 12 months of his four year sentence
Although victims advocates, lawmakers and fans have called for him to be banned from the Olympics, the IOC has said it was powerless to stop the Netherlands from sending an athlete who qualified in the usual way.
However, he was not staying with other athletes in Olympic village after the British Olympic Association aired concerns over the matter with the IOC.
Dutch Olympic selectors supported Van de Velde’s inclusion in their team and previously explained he had met all the criteria needed to appear at the Games in France’s capital.
Van de Velde (pictured) told a Dutch newspaper that he considered skipping the Olympics entirely and shockingly criticised the media for their reporting of the case
Despite the controversy, Immers (left) defended Van de Velde (right) and said they would stay as partners
‘Since 2018, Steven van de Velde has been participating in international beach volleyball tournaments again following an intensive, professionally supervised trajectory,’ a spokesperson told Mail Sport.
‘Meanwhile, Steven van de Velde has met all qualification criteria for the Olympic Games and is therefore included in the group of athletes who formally passed over on July 4 from the Dutch national federations to NOC, who then becomes responsible for them during the Olympic Games.’
They also provided special treatment for the athlete whilst he competed in Paris and prevented him from speaking to reporters, something typically required of all Olympians.
Dutch aide John van Vliet told The Sun: ‘We are protecting a convicted child rapist to do his sport as best as possible.’
Team-mate Immers, 23, also defended his partner, saying: ‘He’s had his punishment. And now he’s really kind.’
