The Dutch beach volleyball player who was convicted of rape has been eliminated from the Paris Olympics.
In 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. On match point, with Van de Velde serving and the crowd jeering him, Evandro delivered the winning spike to win 21-16, 21-16 and end the Dutch team's stay at the Summer Games.
The teammates hugged, did the usual postmatch handshake with the opponents and the officials and then sat on the bench for a few minutes with an arm around each other’s shoulder. Van de Velde walked off waving to crowd, seeking out the orange-clad Dutch fans who were applauding among the others sending boos his way.“It was an emotional roller coaster. I see it that way,” Immers said. “We fought. We enjoyed every moment. So I’m really proud of that. It was the coolest stadium I ever played in. ..
Van de Velde, 29, served 13 months in prison after his 2016 rape conviction in England. Although victims advocates, lawmakers and fans have called for him to be banned from the Olympics, theVan de Velde rose from the players’ bench and waved to the crowd when he was introduced before the match, picking out the orange-clad Dutch fans.
Immers said he and Van de Velde will remain a team, first with the European championships in the Netherlands the week after the Olympics, followed by the Dutch championships. “We still got a ninth on our first Olympics. And I’m proud of that,” said Immers, who is 23."And we keep on going.”
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