Paula Radcliffe ‘mortified’ for wishing convicted rapist ‘best of luck’ at Olympics
The Netherlands’ Steven van de Velde at the Olympic village in Paris, France. Photo: Maja Hitij/Getty Images
British athletics legend Paula Radcliffe.
Paula Radcliffe has described herself as “mortified” for wishing luck to a convicted rapist who is competing at the Olympics.
Dutch beach volleyball player Steven Van de Velde served time in prison for the rape of a 12-year-old girl in 2014 and has controversially been selected for the Games.
In an interview with LBC, former marathon runner turned pundit Radcliffe said that it was a “tough thing to punish him twice” and that she “wished him the best of luck”, drawing parallels with drugs cheats who are given second chances in sport.
British athletics legend Paula Radcliffe.
However, writing on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Thursday, Radcliffe said: “I am mortified that I expressed it so badly and didn’t condemn the rape out loud.
“I do believe in second chances after serving punishment but think the Olympics should be for those who…
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