Child rapist Steven van de Velde's Olympic pick defended - 'I wish him the best of luck'

Marathon legend Paula Radcliffe has whipped up a storm of controversy by defending child rapist Steven van de Velde’s Olympic selection and wishing him "the best of luck."

Former marathon world record holder Radcliffe, 50, told LBC it would be "tough" to punish Van de Velde twice after he was imprisoned in 2016 for raping a British 12-year-old. Radcliffe is due to be part of the BBC commentary team at the Paris 2024 Games .

But her astonishing remarks about Van de Verde, who arrived in the French capital amid tight security, risk outrage. When asked if the Dutch beach volleyball star should be banned from the Olympics, Radcliffe said: "That is a very dangerous line to go down given that we allow people who cheat in sport and take drugs in sport to then come back and compete.

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"So to ban someone - as I understand it, he was 19 at the time and he’s served his jail time - it’s a long time to carry on paying for that mistake for the rest of your life. He may well have turned it around and completely repented. You certainly hope so, I know that he is married now and has settled down.

"It’s a tough thing to do to punish him twice and if he’s managed to successfully turn his life around after being sent to prison and to qualify and to be playing sport at the highest level, then I actually wish him the best of luck.

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"He’ll be watched during the village, if it were to be repeated now or it had been last year I would be saying a different thing. But the ban and the learning difference from 19 to 29 is huge."

Dutch chiefs have defended Van de Velde's Olympic selection. The Dutch Olympic Committee (NOC) told BBC Sport last month: "After his release, Van de Velde sought and received professional counselling. He demonstrated to those around him - privately and professionally - self-insight and reflection."

But many people, including other athletes, have criticized his inclusion. Australia's chef de mission Anna Meares said earlier this month: "If an athlete or staff member had that conviction they would not be allowed to be a member of our team. We have stringent policies on safeguarding within our team."