5 months ago
56
PARIS Olympics star Wilfried Happio has been accused of attacking an ex-girlfriend and “punching her in the head”, it has been reported.
The 400m hurdles runner has now had three woman come forward and accuse him of violence against them, although two have had their claims dismissed.
AFP
AFP
AFPThe latest accusation comes just days before the quadrennial event is set to start on July 26.
Happio is due to compete in the 400m hurdles on August 5. He is a five time French champion and two time European Champion.
The 25-year-old is one of the best known athletes on the French team and has fronted campaigns for Adidas.
The latest accuser spoke about her experience with the Parisian in an interview with French newspaper Le Monde.
Maria, pseudonym, told the paper that Happio allegedly punched her in the head and slapped her while wearing a signet ring when she had smoked during their relationship between 2018 and 2019.
The woman, an athlete herself, also claimed she was left bleeding from the nose and covered in bruises following an attack while on holiday.
Another time he also allegedly rammed his bicycle into her thigh, leaving her with a bruise.
Maria said she had aborted a baby when she fell pregnant to Happio.
She claimed in the interview Happio asked her to sign an affidavit saying he had never been violent, which she says she now regrets.
She said: “I was scared and still in love.”
The athlete did not reply to Le Monde’s request for comment, but his lawyer did.
Lawyer Anthony Mottais said Happio: “obviously denies being a violent or misogynistic man, or any other adjective that could be used in this sense.”
The relationship was, Mottais said: “very complicated, as some relationships are, especially for young adults. He denies the charges against him.
“These affairs are resurfacing just before the Games, when on the contrary he needs serenity to prepare well for them.”
In 2020, Janet Scott accused him of punching her in the car park of a fast-food restaurant.
Happio had had a brief relationship triple jumper. He claimed self defence and the case was dismissed.
In the summer of 2022, he was accused of sexual assault by a fellow athlete who accused Happio of inappropriate touching.
The case was dismissed in June 2023.
Happio wins race with eye patch and blindfold
FRENCH athlete Wilfried Happio was shockingly attacked just 20 minutes before he became the national champion in the 400m hurdles.
The 23-year-old was left a bloodied and battered mess after he was violently assaulted during his warm-up in Caen on Saturday.
An individual somehow managed to evade security where he proceeded to land several blows to the face of Happio.
Happio’s coach Olivier Vallaeys stepped in to block the attack, before the person was sharply arrested by the police.
Le Parisien have stated that the French Athletics Federation and the city of Caen will file a complaint on Sunday against the perpetrator.
According to RMC Sport, Happio was coughing up blood just moments before the start of the race.
Despite the sickening assault, Happio declared himself fit enough to compete.
Wearing an eye patch along with a bandage draped around his face, the Parisian incredibly became the French champion as he won with a time of 48.57 seconds.
It was a new personal best for Happio.
Getty
Bengali (BD) · 
English (US) ·