Dutch beach volleyball player Steven van de Velde, who was convicted of raping a 12-year-old British girl in 2016, says he considered quitting the Paris Olympics amid the controversy surrounding his participation. Van de Velde and his partner Matthew Immers reached the quarterfinals in Paris, where they lost to Brazil in straight sets.
Spectators boo Netherland’s Steven van de Velde as he serves to Brazil in a beach volleyball match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Paris , France. Netherlands’ Steven Van De Velde hits the ball during the men’s pool B beach volleyball match between Norway and Netherlands at Eiffel Tower Stadium at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Paris , France.
“I thought, ‘I don’t want that. I’m not going to give others the power to decide they can bully me away or get rid of me,’” he said told NOS in Dutch.He served 13 months in prison after his 2016 rape conviction in England. Although victims advocates, lawmakers and fans called for him to be banned from the Olympics, the IOC said it was powerless to stop the Netherlands from sending an athlete whoWrestling has been off-limits for women in Senegal.
But Van de Velde, who is now married and has a young son, added, “I’m not the person I was 10 years ago.”
2024 Paris Olympic Games Olympic Games Sports - Europe S Paris Brazil Sports
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Dutch Volleyball Player Steven van de Velde Competing at Paris Olympics Following Prison Sentence for RapeDutch volleyball player Steven van de Velde – who was sentenced to four years in prison for raping a child — is competing at the Paris Summer Olympics, sparking backlash among those who want him disqualified.
Read more »
Steven van de Velde, the Dutch beach volleyball player convicted of rape, eliminated from OlympicsThe Dutch beach volleyball player who was convicted of rape has been eliminated from the Paris Olympics.
Read more »
Steven van de Velde, the Dutch beach volleyball player convicted of rape, eliminated from OlympicsThe Dutch beach volleyball player who was convicted of rape has been eliminated from the Paris Olympics.
Read more »
Steven van de Velde, the Dutch beach volleyball player convicted of rape, eliminated from OlympicsIn his fourth and final match, Van de Velde again was subjected to a steady stream of hoots and whistles each time he served the ball.
Read more »
Steven van de Velde, the Dutch beach volleyball player convicted of rape, eliminated from OlympicsThe Dutch beach volleyball player who was convicted of raping a 12-year-old British girl in 2016 has been eliminated from the Paris Olympics. Steven van de Velde and Matthew Immers lost to Brazil in straight sets. In his fourth and final match, Van de Velde was again subjected to a steady stream of hoots and whistles when he served the ball.
Read more »
The Dutch Deserve Backlash After Letting Steven van de Velde Compete in OlympicsThe beach volleyball player was convicted and sentenced for raping a 12-year-old girl. But he will compete in Paris for the Netherlands, just weeks after a long overdue revision to Dutch sex crime laws was approved.
Read more »