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.’
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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.’
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