Dutch volleyball player Steven van de Velde’s tumultuous past ignited a media frenzy ahead of the 2024 Olympics, and his debut on the court received a polarized reception.
Van de Velde, who was convicted in 2016 of raping a 12-year-old girl, faced boos from the crowd as he was introduced at the Eiffel Tower Stadium on Sunday, July 28, according to a private news outlet. Despite some applause, the overall reaction was mixed. In contrast, his teammate, Matthew Immers, was welcomed with cheers. The duo eventually lost their match to Italy.
In 2016, van de Velde was sentenced to four years in prison after admitting to three counts of rape but was released in 2017 after serving just over a year, according to a private news outlet.
His selection for the Netherlands’ Olympic team sparked significant backlash, with over 95,000 signatures on a Change.org petition calling for his removal.
Responding to the outcry, the Dutch Olympic Committee released a statement acknowledging the public’s emotions and emphasizing that van de Velde has turned his life around since his conviction. “We are deeply aware that the renewed publicity about Steven van de Velde is causing a lot of emotion, which we fully understand, as the events at that time were very serious,” the statement read. “A lot has happened since then. Steven served his sentence and has completed an extensive rehabilitation program with specialized professionals, including the probation service. Experts have concluded there is no risk of recidivism.”
To minimize further scrutiny, van de Velde is being housed outside the Olympic Village and will not engage in media interviews, according to a private news outlet.
After Sunday’s match, Immers expressed his support for van de Velde in an interview with the BBC. “We talked about it one time and we want to enjoy every moment on this stage because we gave everything together for the past three years to qualify,” he said. “Steven is a really nice guy and for me, I played two years with him, there was nothing and now there [are] some people that don’t like it because it is a big tournament.”
Van de Velde has previously told Dutch media that he considers his conviction “the biggest mistake of my life.” He reportedly stated, “I can’t reverse it, so I will have to bear the consequences.”
