Child Rapist Makes Dutch Olympic Team: 'Meets Qualification Requirements'

Dutch volleyball player Steven van de Velde, who was convicted of raping a 12-year-old girl in 2014, will represent the Netherlands at the Summer Olympics in July. 

Van de Velde, now 29, was found guilty on three charges related to an August 2014 incident where he traveled from Amsterdam to Great Britain where he raped the girl. In court, the Olympian admitted he knew the girl's age and took her virginity when her mother had left the house. 

TLAXCALA, MEXICO - OCTOBER 11: Steven van de Velde of the Netherlands during Day 6 of the Beach World Champs Tlaxcala 2023 at Tlaxcala Plaza de Toros on October 11, 2023 in Tlaxcala, Mexico. (Photo by Pablo Morano/BSR Agency/Getty Images)

According to an investigation, the girl added van de Velde on Facebook after he "allegedly" commented on one of her photos. From there, the two chatted on social media. 

"There is genuine remorse. He has lost a stellar sports career and has been branded a rapist. Plainly it is a career end for him," van de Velde's lawyer, Linda Strudwick, said in court during his sentencing. 

But it didn't end his career. 

By 2017, the convicted child rapist was out of jail and went right back to competing in volleyball tournaments. Now he's representing the Netherlands at the Paris Games an apologists have stepped forward to play defense for a guy who knew he was raping a 12-year-old girl.

The Dutch organizing committee says their volleyball player met all the requirements and guidelines "which sets out, among other things, the conditions under which athletes in top-level sports can return after a conviction."

Nothing to see here, the Dutch say. 

"Van de Velde now meets all the qualification requirements for the Olympic Games and is therefore part of the team," the committee added.

Planning on rooting for the Dutch in beach volleyball? You've been warned.