Van de Velde was booed and jeered while competing at the Games. Dutch Olympic officials went to lengths to protect him from the press during the event.

He has now opened up to Dutch publication NOS about his experience, admitting that while he anticipated backlash, the intensity of it took him by surprise. "I definitely had a moment of breaking down, both before the tournament and during it. But I thought ‘I’m not going to give others the power to bully me away or get me away’.

    • inb4_FoundTheVegan@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      I’m amazed that you are trying to take the high ground here.

      According to the case notes, the attraction was mutual

      It’s irrelevant if the child is willing, they are not old enough to make those choices. She was 12 and had no capacity to agree to sex with a 19 year old. Especially one that gave her alcohol.

      Like, stop talking about research start using a modicum of common sense.

    • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      Dude. She was 12. Have you eve spent time around 12-year-old girls? This is some sick, “she led me on” shit.

      Also, who wrote these case notes and please show them to me. You also claimed he apologized and I’ve seen no sign of that either.