Outrage as BBC pundit & Team GB legend Paula Radcliffe wishes Olympian who raped a child ‘best of luck’ at Paris Games

TEAM GB legend Paula Radcliffe has sparked outrage after wishing an Olympian who raped a child “best of luck” for the Paris Games.

The BBC pundit said she believed that Steven van de Velde should be allowed to compete at the Olympics during a radio interview.

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Paula Radcliffe has sparked outrage after her comments on LBC[/caption]

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She wished “best of luck” to convicted rapist Steven van de Velde[/caption]

The beach volleyball player was sentenced to four years in prison in Britain in 2016 after pleading guilty to raping a 12-year-old girl two years earlier when he was 19.

He served part of his sentence in the UK before being transferred to his native Netherlands where his term was adjusted to the norms of Dutch law.

But Van de Velde was later released in 2017 after just one year in jail and continued playing beach volleyball right away.

Now 29, the athlete was controversially named in the Dutch Olympic team last month.

Radcliffe was asked by Andrew Marr’s LBC programme about the decision to allow Van de Velde to compete.

And the former Olympic star said that she believed Van de Velde “shouldn’t be punished twice”. 

Paula told LBC: “It’s a tough thing to do to punish him [van de Velde] twice and if he’s managed to successfully turn his life around after being sent to prison and to qualify and be playing sport at the highest level, then I actually wish him the best of luck.”

Her comments have since sparked backlash on social media after the clip was viewed by thousands.

One wrote: ” I am utterly shocked that Paula Radcliffe has spoken out in support of Steven Van de Velde on LBC today.

“Her comments are gut-wrenching, this whole sorry saga is horrific, and more importantly won’t protect children from being abused.”

Another said: “I’m sure the 12 year old and her family are still living with his disgusting actions. Paula Radcliffe you should hang your head in shame.”

A third wrote: “Sorry to disagree with Paula Radcliffe but child rapists should never see the light of day let alone represent their country on the biggest stage.”

While a fourth added: “He raped the same 12 year old child THREE TIMES. He was sentenced to only FOUR years in prison for those crimes and actually only served a year.

“Why would any country want a convicted paedophile to represent them at the Olympics? And Paula Radcliffe, don’t talk crap!”

Radcliffe has since apologised, posting on X: “Last night I gave an interview and made some comments that I deeply regret.

“I want to sincerely apologise and emphasise how much I categorically condemn the crime of rape.

“I am ashamed that my words so inaccurately represented myself. It was a mistake not to clearly denounce this at the beginning.

“In trying to explain how the athlete in question could possibly be allowed to compete at the Olympic Games, my thought process referred to the legalities and regulations when I also intended to highlight the danger of these allowing an athlete convicted of such a crime to return.

“Competing in the Olympic Games is a privilege that should be reserved for those who uphold the Olympic moral ideals. I absolutely should not have wished him luck and genuinely have no explanation for why I said that.

“I am truly sorry for so wrongly expressing my intended views and understand that this statement can in no way repair the damage but hopefully conveys my deep regret.”

Van de Velde met the girl on Facebook, and flew to England to meet her with full knowledge of her age.

He only served 12 months in a Dutch prison and has since returned to compete internationally.

Recently, van de Velde joined up with a new partner, Matthew Immers, and they are the second ranked Dutch team for the Olympics.

They secured one of their country’s two men’s spots at Paris 2024 and are ranked 11th on the overall rankings heading into the Games.

Disgraced Van de Velde moved to alternative accommodation in Paris and has been put on a ban from talking to media.

Chef de mission Pieter van den Hoogenband told Dutch TV: “He’s not going to downplay it (his conviction).

“We have to respect that and help him as a member of the team to be able to perform.”

Women’s groups have condemned the decision to allow Van de Velde to compete at the Games, and criticised his selection by the Netherlands. 

The Times reports the 29-year-old is staying at a different location rather than with the other competitors in the athletes’ village.

Other organisations, including the British Olympic Association would not have allowed the beach volleyball player onto their Olympic team because of their own safeguarding rules.

The BBC have been contacted for comment.

PA:Empics Sport

Radcliffe is a former World and European champion runner[/caption]