Child rapist and beach volleyball player Steven van de Velde admits he nearly quit the Paris Olympics
The Dutch Olympic quarter-finalist, who was convicted in 2016 of raping a 12-year-old girl in England, gave his first interview about the Paris Games, revealing that jeering from the crowd may have affected the performance of both him and his playing partner.
Dutch beach volleyball player Steven van de Velde, who was convicted of raping a 12-year-old British girl, revealed that he considered quitting the Paris Olympics as controversy grew over his participation.
Van de Velde, who served 13 months in prison following his 2016 conviction in England, has acknowledged the crime as “the biggest mistake of my life.”
Despite calls from victim support and safeguarding groups for his ban, the International Olympic Committee emphasized the need to “allow for the possibility of rehabilitation.”
Van de Velde and his playing partner, Matthew Immers, advanced to the quarter-finals in Paris. Throughout their four matches, Van de Velde faced constant boos and whistles from the crowd.
Van de Velde remained silent during the Olympics but opened up in an emotional interview with Dutch national broadcaster NOS, where he revealed that he had considered quitting the Games before ultimately deciding to compete.
He explained, “I thought, ‘I don’t want that. I’m not going to give others the power to bully me away or get rid of me.'”
Now married with a young son, Van de Velde acknowledged that the crowd’s reaction may have affected his performance.
“There’s a very good chance it influenced our game,” he told NOS. “When I think about how much I was focused on external distractions—how I wanted to present myself on the field rather than focusing on tactics against our opponents—you could say it had an impact, but there’s no point in shifting the blame.”
Van de Velde, who received support from Dutch fans, said he understood the controversy surrounding his participation.
“Do you want someone with a past like mine? Can he stand on the podium? Those are valid questions,” he stated.
“I can’t change how people perceive me. Some may hold me accountable forever for what happened, and that’s fair—it’s their right. So, I accept that.
“I am not the person I was 10 years ago.”
In a statement posted on the Netherlands Volleyball Federation’s website before the Olympics, Van de Velde addressed his past, saying, “I cannot undo what happened, so I must face the consequences.
“It has been the biggest mistake of my life.”
