Trigger Warning: This article discusses topics of rape which might be upsetting for some readers.
Despite a past that shocked the sports community, beach volleyball player Steven van de Velde is gearing up to compete for the Netherlands in the upcoming Paris Olympics. Van de Velde, 29, was embroiled in controversy when, in 2016, he was convicted of raping a child and sentenced to four years in prison in the Netherlands. The crimes occurred in 2014 when van de Velde, then 19, connected with a 12-year-old on Facebook. He traveled to the UK to meet the victim and committed the crime at a location in Milton Keynes.
During his 2016 sentencing, Judge Francis Sheridan remarked that van de Velde’s actions had likely dashed his Olympic aspirations, stating, “Prior to coming to this country you were training as a potential Olympian. Your hopes of representing your country now lie as a shattered dream. Your actions have wrecked your life and you could, had you never come to England and committed these offences, have been a leader in your sport.” Despite these grim prognostications, van de Velde was released after serving just 12 months of his sentence.
Fast forward to today, van de Velde has successfully secured a spot in the national pair for the 2024 Paris Olympics alongside Matthew Immers. This decision has stirred significant public and media discourse regarding his inclusion. The Dutch Olympic Committee (NOC) addressed these concerns, telling BBC Sport, “After his release, Van de Velde sought and received professional counselling. He demonstrated to those around him – privately and professionally – self-insight and reflection.”
The NOC further explained that van de Velde’s return to competitive volleyball adheres to the ‘Guidelines Integrity Record’ set by the Dutch Volleyball Federation (NeVoBo), which lays out specific conditions under which athletes can resume their sports careers post-conviction.
Van de Velde has also made public statements regarding his past actions, expressing regret and describing them as ‘the biggest mistake of my life.’ However, his perspective seemed to shift in 2017, after he had served part of his sentence. He attempted to counteract the negative press he received while incarcerated, saying, “I do want to correct all the nonsense that has been written about me when I was locked up. I did not read any of it, on purpose, but I understand that it was quite bad, that I have been branded as a sex monster, as a paedophile. That I am not, really not. Everyone can have their opinion about me, but it is only fair if they also know my side of the story.”
If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual assault, help is available 24/7 through The National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673), or online at online.rainn.org.