Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
USA TODAY
Paula Radcliffe sorry for wishing convicted rapist 'best of luck' at Olympics
By Scooby Axson, USA TODAY,
6 hours ago
Former British marathon world champion Paula Radcliffe apologized for her words in wishing Netherlands beach volleyball player Steven van de Velde, who was convicted of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl, the "best of luck."
In 2016, van de Velde was sentenced to four years in prison after being convicted of three counts of rape against a child. He only served 12 months of that sentence and just last month was selected to be a member of the Olympic team for the Netherlands.
"I am mortified that I expressed it so badly and didn’t condemn the rape out loud," Radcliffe said.
But on Wednesday, Radcliffe appeared on radio station LBC and was asked about athletes being banned from the Olympics for doping before turning her attention to van de Velde.
"To ban someone, as I understand it, he was 19 at the time, and he’s served his jail time, and it’s a long time to carry on paying for that mistake for the rest of your life," Radcliffe said. "I think 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."
Great Britain's Paula Radcliffe during the Virgin Money London Marathon in 2015. Suzanne Plunkett, Reuters
After backlash, Radcliffe, who has competed at four Olympic games and has won the New York City marathon three times, issued an apology on social media.
"I do believe in second chances after serving punishment but think the Olympics should be for those who uphold the ideals − that’s why I poorly brought the doping comparison in," she wrote.
"I myself am shocked and disappointed at how I expressed this so badly. I am very sorry and should have done much better. I by no means meant to overlook the crime and meant to say those who don’t uphold ideals should be excluded but can’t be.
"I profoundly apologize and am deeply shocked and disappointed in myself and can’t understand how I managed to convey it so badly."
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.
Comments / 0