Convicted child rapist to represent Dutch Olympic beach volleyball team: 'An exemplary professional'

Steven van de Velde will represent the Netherlands in the Olympics next month, eight years after being convicted of raping a 12-year-old. In 2014 and less than a week before his 19th birthday, Van de Velde flew to England to meet the victim, where he raped her after giving her alcohol. He first met the victim on Facebook. He was sentenced to four years in prison two years later but was released after just one year. He is a registered sex offender in the U.K.

cannot reverse it, so I will have to bear the consequences. It has been the biggest mistake of my life,' he said in 2018. He returned to competing in international competitions shortly after his release from prison in 2017. Now, the Dutch volleyball federation, Nevobo, says van de Velde 'meets all the qualification requirements for the Olympic Games and is therefore part of the team.' 'He was convicted at the time according to English law, and he has served his sentence.

According to them, it has not been demonstrated that there is a reasonable chance of a top-eight ranking during the Olympic Games,' the statement said. The Netherlands' best finish in men's beach volleyball at the Olympics was a bronze medal in 2016. Fox News' Paulina Dedaj contributed to this report. Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

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