Paula Radcliffe has issued a grovelling apology on social media after receiving backlash for wishing convicted rapist Steven van de Velde 'good luck' at the Paris Olympics.
Van de Velde was sentenced to four years in prison in 2016 after pleading guilty to raping a 12-year-old girl when he was 19.
The Dutchman served just 12 months of his four-year sentence and the Dutch Volleyball Association allowed him to resume his career as a beach volleyball player.
It was then announced that Van de Velde had been selected for the Dutch beach volleyball team at this summer's Olympics.
Paula Radcliffe apologised for her comments online
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Radcliffe appeared on radio station LBC where she was asked about athletes receiving outright bans at the Olympics.
The former women's marathon world champion caused a stir as she showed her support for the Dutchman.
"It's a tough thing to do to punish him [van de Velde] twice and if he’s managed to successfully turn his life around after being sent to prison and to qualify and be playing sport at the highest level, then I actually wish him the best of luck," she said.
After facing backlash online for her remark, Radcliffe issued an apology on social media.
"I profoundly apologise and am deeply shocked and disappointed in myself and can’t understand how I managed to convey it so badly," she said.
"I think in my head by 'dangerous line' I meant allowing him into the Games when it is against all the Olympic ideals but I didn’t say this out loud.
"I wrongly jumped to explaining why legally, as I understand it he can’t be excluded without first condemning the rape out loud, I think I assumed this went without saying I genuinely have no idea why I would ever wish luck when I didn’t mean it and sincerely apologise for hurt."
She added: "I am mortified that I expressed it so badly and didn’t condemn the rape out loud.
Steven van de Velde pleaded guilty to raping a 12-year-old girl when he was 19
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"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)."
Australia Olympics chief Anna Meares hit out at the Netherlands for selected Van de Velde to take part in Paris 2024.
“If an athlete or staff member had that conviction they would not be allowed to be a member of our team,” Meares said.
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Steven van de Velde was selected for the Netherlands beach volleyball team
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“We have stringent policies on safeguarding within our team.”
But the Netherlands’ chef de mission, Pieter van den Hoogenband, has been left surprised at the backlash over Van de Velde's inclusion.
“He has been active in international sport, the beach volleyball world, for some time. He has played World Cups, European Championships and World Cups, but then you see that things are different around the Games," he said. "That things are exaggerated.”