Steven van de Velde

Dutch beach volleyball player Steven van de Velde, a convicted rapist, was eliminated from the Paris Olympics after losing to Brazil in the round of 16. Van de Velde, who served just 13 months of a four-year sentence for raping a 12-year-old girl in 2016, faced significant public backlash and was consistently booed during matches. Despite calls from advocates and lawmakers for his exclusion, the IOC was unable to intervene in his participation. Following their defeat, Van de Velde and his partner Matthew Immers expressed emotional responses, reflecting on the challenges of competing amid the controversy. Van de Velde did not engage with the media after the match and has remained largely silent throughout the Games. His presence has sparked widespread criticism from women's and protection organizations.