Steven van de Velde, a convicted child ra*ist breaks down in tears after his controversial inclusion in Paris Olympics

Steven van de Velde dissolved into tears in his first interview after the Paris Olympics because of the intense scrutiny.

Steven van de Velde, a convicted child ra*ist breaks down in tears after his controversial inclusion in Paris Olympics

Steven van de Velde at the Paris Olympics (image via GB News)

Volleyball player Steven van de Velde received immense backlash for competing at the Paris Olympics. The 30-year-old Netherlands athlete was jailed in 2016 for assaulting a 12-year-old girl when he was 19. During an interview, the athlete got emotional and confessed that he almost quit.

Steven van de Velde avoided the interviews throughout the Paris Olympics. However, now that it came to an end, he took to the hot seat to face the hard-hitting reality. He expressed to the reporters that he faced constant boos and vile comments while competing in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower at the Games. It grew to the extent that Velde considered pulling out of the competition.

But hurting people around me – whether it’s Matthew, my wife, my child ... that just goes too far for me. That's definitely a moment where I thought, is this worth it?
Steven van de Velde in an interview after the Paris Olympics
YouTube video

Further in the interview, Velde shared his acceptance of his wrongdoings from the past. However, hurting the people close to him, be it his partner, Matthew Immers, his wife or his child was where he drew the line. However, he decided to stay in the competition until round 16 where he lost to Brazil and bowed out.

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He remained adamant on the fact that he was not the same man from 10 years ago. He emphasized that he was 30 now, had a wife, a child, a content life, and was a completely changed person. Later, he stated that he could not make people change their opinions of him and didn’t hold them accountable for criticizing him.

Steven van de Velde blames the English media for his criticism

Van de Velde gave his first interview after the Paris Olympics. During this, he suggested that the English media lent a hand in the intensity of his criticism. While he was prepared to face the consequences of his own actions, he felt the crowd at the Paris Olympics went a little too far.

Velde criticized the English media for reporting about his background and bringing it to light, stroking controversy. He shared at a press conference how he was sharing an article ahead of the games where he saw his wife’s picture. He thought that move went below the belt.

For similar reasons forethought by the NOC*NSF, they kept him out of the Olympic Village as precautions for the safety of other Olympians. Further, at Velde’s request, he had no contact with the media during the Paris Olympics.

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