Warning: This article contains discussion of rape which some readers may find distressing.

Beach volleyball player Steven van de Velde, who was convicted of raping a 12-year-old, is set to represent the Netherlands at the Paris Olympics despite his criminal past.

In 2016, Van de Velde, then 19 years old, admitted to three counts of rape against a child and was sentenced to four years in a Dutch prison. However, he was released after serving only 12 months of his sentence.

The incident occurred in 2014 when the athlete met the victim, a 12-year-old, on Facebook. He traveled to the UK and committed the rape in Milton Keynes.

Initially, the judge informed Van de Velde that his actions had shattered his dreams of representing his country at the Olympics. However, contrary to these predictions, he recently secured his spot in the national pair for the 2024 Paris Olympics alongside Matthew Immers.

The Dutch Olympic Committee (NOC) has responded to the concerns raised by Van de Velde’s participation. According to the NOC, Van de Velde sought professional counseling after his release and demonstrated self-insight and reflection in both private and professional aspects of his life.

The NOC states that Van de Velde’s return to the sport aligns with the guidelines set by the Dutch Volleyball Federation (NeVoBo) in their ‘Guidelines Integrity Record’, which lays down conditions for athletes to resume competing after a conviction.

Van de Velde himself has issued a statement through the committee, acknowledging the media attention surrounding his participation: “In 2016 and afterwards, several Dutch media also paid attention to the story. I understand that in the run-up to the biggest sporting event in the world, this can attract the attention of international media.” He added, “It has been the biggest mistake of my life.”

It is important to note that these comments differ from what Van de Velde stated in 2017 after serving a quarter of his sentence. At that time, he mentioned wanting to correct the misconceptions about him and emphasized that he is not a sex monster or a pedophile.

For further information or statements regarding this matter, UNILAD has reached out to the Dutch Olympic Committee for comment.