Dutch seashore volleyball participant Steven van de Velde, who was convicted of raping a 12-year-old British woman, has revealed he thought-about quitting the Paris Olympics as controversy escalated over his participation.
Van de Velde served 13 months in jail after his 2016 rape conviction in England and has admitted the crime represented “the largest mistake of my life”.
Sufferer assist and safeguarding teams referred to as for him to be banned, however the Worldwide Olympic Committee stated it wanted to “enable for the potential of rehabilitation”.
Van de Velde and his enjoying companion Matthew Immers reached the quarter-finals in Paris.
The pair performed 4 matches by which Van de Velde was repeatedly subjected to a stream of boos and whistles from the group.
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Van de Velde didn’t converse to reporters through the Olympics, however in an emotional interview with Dutch nationwide broadcaster NOS, he stated he thought-about quitting the video games earlier than deciding to compete.
He stated: “I believed, ‘I do not need that. I am not going to present others the ability to resolve they’ll bully me away or eliminate me’.”
Van de Velde, who’s now married and has a younger son, stated the response of the group might have had an influence on his efficiency.
“So there’s actually an excellent probability that it has had an affect on our recreation,” he advised NOS.
“If I take into consideration how a lot I used to be centered on peripheral issues – with how I wish to be on the sector as an alternative of with ways in opposition to the opponent – then you may say that that has had an affect, however there isn’t a level in passing the buck.”
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Van de Velde, who acquired assist from followers of the Netherlands, stated he understood the commotion.
“Would you like anyone with a historical past? Can he stand on the rostrum? That could be a reliable query to ask,” he stated.
“I am unable to change what folks consider me. Somebody can maintain me accountable eternally for what occurred and that is OK, as a result of that is what it’s. It’s their proper. So, I settle for that.
“I am not the individual I used to be 10 years in the past.”
In a press release posted on the web site of the Netherlands Volleyball Federation earlier than the Olympics, Van de Velde stated of his previous: “I can not reverse it, so I must bear the results.
“It has been the largest mistake of my life.”