Paula Radcliffe has apologised for her defence of the hugely controversial Dutch decision to allow convicted child rapist Steven van de Velde to compete at the Paris Olympics, in which she said: “I actually wish him the best of luck.”
Van de Valde, 29, is representing Netherlands in beach volleyball at the Games, despite being sentenced to four years in prison in 2016 for raping a 12-year-old British girl when he was 19. While his involvement has been condemned by everyone from Australian chef de mission Anna Meares to multiple victims’ advocacy groups, Radcliffe, Britain’s former marathon world record-holder, argued that he should be shown mercy.
Describing the idea of banning Van de Velde as a “very dangerous line to go down”, she said: “We allow people who cheat in sport and take drugs to come back and compete. He was 19 at the time and he has served his jailed time….
