Photo: HOLLANDSE HOOGTE/SHUTTERSTOCK / SHUTTERSTOCK EDITORIAL/IBL
Photo: HOLLANDSE HOOGTE/SHUTTERSTOCK / SHUTTERSTOCK EDITORIAL/IBL
Steven van de Velde and Matthews Immers at the Olympics.
Foto: ROBIN UTRECHT/SHUTTERSTOCK / SHUTTERSTOCK EDITORIAL/IBL
Steven Van de Velde was 19 years old when he was sentenced to four years in prison for raping a then 12-year-old girl.
When the Netherlands before the Olympics in Paris announced that Steven van de Velde, on day 30, was selected to compete, criticism did not wait.
– What he has done is obviously abhorrent, said Swedish Olympic gold hero David Åhman.
– If a practitioner or leader had such a punishment in their luggage, they would not have been allowed to be part of our team, said Australia’s Olympic director Anna Meares according to The Independent.
“It’s just going too far”
Despite this, Steven Van de Velde chose to play in the championship – and was heavily booed by the crowd in every match he played.
Now he speaks for the first time about the treatment, in a tearful interview with Dutch media.
– I made a mistake ten years ago. I have to accept it. But to hurt the people around me, whether it’s Matthew (Immer, van de Velde’s teammate, ed. note), my wife, my child… it’s just going too far, he says according to Telegraph.
He admits he considered quitting the championship.
– There were definitely moments when I thought: is it really worth it?
Steven van de Velde received special permission
Steven van de Velde is one of the few athletes at the Olympics who did not live in the Olympic Village.
At his own request, he chose to live in another, unknown to the public, accommodation instead. He also received a special permit and did not have to be interviewed during the games, something that the active players are otherwise obliged to do.
The Netherlands made it to the round of 16 at the Olympics. There, however, they were eliminated after losing to Brazil.
