Dutch beach volleyball player Steven van de Velde, who was jailed for raping a British girl, broke down in tears during his first interview after avoiding the media at the Paris Olympics.
The 29-year-old was imprisoned in 2016 for raping a 12-year-old girl in August 2014 after flying to the UK to meet her when he was 19. Van de Velde was handed a four-year prison sentence after admitting three counts of rape but served only 12 months behind bars.
Despite his conviction, Van de Velde was controversially selected to represent the Netherlands in the beach volleyball event. He arrived in Paris under tight security and was reframed from staying in the Olympic Village, instead staying at an off-campus private accommodation to keep him from the public spotlight and media.
Van de Velde, who is now married with children of his own, is unable to escape his past after he was targeted by boos and jeers from the crowd while competing in the Games. The backlash to his participation in Paris saw the Dutch Olympic chiefs shield him from media interviews and arrangements.Upon returning to his homeland following the conclusion of the Games, Van de Velde told Dutch outlet NOS, that he expected controversy but the scale of which shocked him. “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’,” he said.
It’s certainly not nothing that’s been fired at you. I think it’s a shame, it’s been 10 years, I’ve played more than 100 tournaments. I understand that it’s an issue, should someone with such a past be allowed to stand on such a podium? That’s a legitimate question.”
Breaking down in tears during the interview, Van de Velde then hit out at the media and public for their reaction. “I did something wrong, ten years ago. I have to accept that. But hurting people around me – whether it’s Matthew (Immers – his Paris 2024 teammate), my wife, my child… that just goes too far for me. That’s definitely a moment where I thought, is this worth it?”He added: “Someone can hold me responsible for what happened forever. That’s okay, someone has the right to do that, but I try to focus on what I can influence. I know this will play a role for the rest of my life. I have to accept that, because I made a mistake.”Discussing his teammate’s past during the Games, Immers previously said: “He had his punishment. And now, he’s really kind. For me, that’s a big example that you can grow. What happened in the past, is not good, of course.
