Olympic Controversy: Steven Van de Velde Breaks Down on Camera After Facing Public Fury
A convicted child rapist and volleyball player broke down in tears as he addressed the backlash over his participation in the Olympics. Steven Van de Velde, 30, who served only one year of a four-year sentence for raping a 12-year-old British girl, spoke publicly for the first time since his contentious appearance at the Paris Games.
Van de Velde, a Dutch athlete, was convicted in 2014 for the rape of the child in Milton Keynes. Despite his conviction, he was chosen to compete after being granted early release from prison and deemed by national selectors to have fulfilled his sentence.
In a recent interview, Van de Velde admitted, “I definitely thought about it. I did something wrong ten years ago, and I have to accept that. But hurting those around me—whether it’s Matthew [his volleyball partner], my wife, or my child—that goes too far for me. It was definitely a moment where I questioned if it was worth it.”
In 2016, Van de Velde was sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to raping a 12-year-old British girl in August 2014. At the time, he was 19 and had traveled from Amsterdam to Milton Keynes, where the crime occurred.
In a recent interview, Steven Van de Velde reflected on his controversial Olympic participation, expressing regret over the harm his past actions have caused. “I definitely thought about it,” he told the newspaper. “I did something wrong ten years ago, and I have to accept that. But hurting people around me—whether it’s Matthew [his volleyball partner], my wife, my child—that just goes too far for me. That’s definitely a moment where I wondered if it was worth it.”
Van de Velde was sentenced to four years in prison in 2016 after pleading guilty to raping a 12-year-old British girl in August 2014. At the time, he was 19 years old and had traveled from Amsterdam to Milton Keynes, where the crime occurred. Despite a judge’s warning that his conviction would be “career ending,” Van de Velde resumed his volleyball career after serving just 12 months of his sentence.
Since his release, Van de Velde has managed to rebuild his life, marrying high-profile German volleyball player Kim Behrens in 2022. The couple, who have a young son, often share their life together on social media, with Behrens, who is also a police officer, publicly supporting her husband.
Calls from victim advocates, lawmakers, and fans for Van de Velde’s ban from the Olympics have been prominent, but the International Olympic Committee (IOC) stated it had no authority to prevent the Netherlands from sending a qualified athlete. Due to concerns raised by the British Olympic Association, Van de Velde did not stay in the Olympic Village. Nevertheless, Dutch Olympic selectors supported his inclusion, citing that he met all necessary criteria for the Games in Paris.
A spokesperson for Van de Velde told Mail Sport, “Since 2018, Steven van de Velde has resumed participating in international beach volleyball tournaments following a rigorous, professionally supervised program. He has met all the necessary qualification criteria for the Olympic Games and was therefore included among the athletes officially handed over to the NOC on July 4 by the Dutch national federations, who are responsible for them during the Olympics.”
Dutch officials provided Van de Velde with special accommodations during the Paris Games, including restrictions on speaking to reporters—a standard requirement for Olympians—and escorting him with three bodyguards. DOC press attaché John Van Vliert explained, “We took two significant measures: Steven slept outside the Olympic Village, and we did not permit media questions in the mix zones. We are ensuring that a convicted child rapist can focus on his sport as best as possible for the tournament he qualified for.”
A Paris 2024 official commented, “Van de Velde was escorted by three bodyguards and did not pass through the mixed zone to avoid media confrontations. While this situation is not ideal, it was a decision made by the highest levels of the IOC.”
Van de Velde’s partner, Immers, 23, also defended him during the tournament, stating, “He has served his punishment and is genuinely kind now.”
The Dutch duo, ranked 11th in the world, qualified for the tournament at the Eiffel Tower Stadium, advancing from their group despite an initial loss to Italy. After their first match at the Paris Games on July 28, Immers was asked if Van de Velde had ever shown remorse for his past actions. Immers replied, “No, he hasn’t, and he doesn’t discuss it.”
The pair went on to defeat teams from Chile and Norway, setting up a round of 16 match against Brazil, which they lost in straight sets.
The selection of van de Velde for the Olympics sparked significant controversy, generating widespread discussion during the Games.
A petition demanding his removal garnered over 94,400 signatures, and the British Olympic Association voiced strong objections to his participation.
In response, the Netherlands Olympic Committee issued a statement indicating that they had implemented specific measures to ensure a safe environment for all participants. “These measures include alternative accommodation for van de Velde and restricted media contact during his stay in Paris,” a spokesperson explained.
The spokesperson emphasized that these precautions were in line with “standard practice” and had been developed after a comprehensive risk assessment involving all concerned parties. The assessment, according to the committee, reaffirmed their “confidence in the safety of all parties involved.”
During his trial nearly a decade ago, Aylesbury Crown Court was informed that van de Velde had traveled to the UK and engaged in sexual activity with his victim.
During the trial, prosecutor Sandra Beck described how the victim had met Steven van de Velde on Facebook. Beck explained that their online interactions made the victim feel “special,” and she had clearly stated her age difference with him.
According to the court, the volleyball player’s victim had added van de Velde as a Facebook friend after he made positive comments on her photo. The following day, they stayed in cardboard boxes under a stairway at a Premier Inn due to a lack of available rooms. Later, the victim took van de Velde to her empty house, where he sexually assaulted her, taking her virginity.
Before returning to the Netherlands, van de Velde advised the victim to get the morning-after pill as they had not used contraception. The girl’s visit to a family planning clinic prompted the authorities to intervene, leading to an investigation due to her age.
Van de Velde, from Westeinde 46, Voorburg, the Netherlands, was extradited to the UK on January 8 and arrested on suspicion of sexual offenses. He later confessed to three counts of rape involving a minor.
In his defense, Linda Strudwick argued that the trip to England was a “spur of the moment” decision and contended that van de Velde was not a “predatory young man.”
Aylesbury Crown Court heard that the trauma from her encounter with van de Velde led the victim to self-harm. Judge Francis Sheridan remarked to van de Velde, “Your hopes of representing your country now lie as a shattered dream.”
Defense counsel Linda Strudwick commented that van de Velde had lost a promising sporting career and was being labeled a rapist, which she noted was effectively the end of his career.
After being sentenced to four years in prison, van de Velde was transferred back to the Netherlands to serve the remainder of his sentence under an agreement between the two countries. This treaty allowed for his conviction and sentence to be adjusted according to Dutch law, changing the charge from rape to “fornication.”
In the Netherlands, the penalties for fornication are less severe, enabling van de Velde to be released in 2017 after serving just one year of his original sentence.
Following his release, van de Velde addressed the allegations against him, stating: “I want to correct the misconceptions about me while I was imprisoned. I deliberately avoided reading the negative press, but I understand it was severe, with me being labeled a sex monster and a pedophile. I am neither of those things. While everyone is entitled to their opinion, it’s only fair for them to hear my side of the story.”
src: dailymail.co.uk
