SNS GroupMarathon world champion turned pundit Paula Radcliffe has apologised after wishing a convicted rapist “the best of luck” ahead of the Olympics.
The controversy arose earlier in the week, when during an interview with radio station LBC on Wednesday, the 50-year-old suggested beach volleyball player Steven van de Velde should not be punished twice after being previously convicted for raping a 12-year-old girl.
She said: “I know that he is married now and has settled down.
“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.”
The four-time Olympian came under fire for her comments, as Van de Velde, who has been named in the Netherlands beach volleyball squad for Paris 2024, was sentenced to four years in prison in 2016.
The 29-year-old resumed his volleyball career after serving just 12 months of his four-year sentence after pleading guilty to raping a 12-year-old British girl when he was 19.
“I am mortified that I expressed it so badly and didn’t condemn the rape out loud,” Radcliffe said in a series of posts 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 added.
“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 apologise and am deeply shocked and disappointed in myself and can’t understand how I managed to convey it so badly.”
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