Paula Radcliffe Apologizes for Olympic Comments

Paula Radcliffe, the former world marathon champion, has publicly apologized after wishing convicted rapist Steven van de Velde 'the best of luck' in his Olympic bid. Van de Velde, who was sentenced to four years in prison for raping a 12-year-old girl, has returned to beach volleyball and was selected for the Netherlands team for the Paris 2024 Olympics. Radcliffe later expressed regret for her poorly worded comments, stating that she did not mean to overlook the severity of his crime and emphasizing that the Olympics should uphold certain ideals. Her remarks sparked outrage from advocacy groups and the public, prompting her to clarify her stance and apologize on social media. The Dutch Olympic Committee defended Van de Velde's inclusion, citing his efforts to rehabilitate after serving his sentence. Radcliffe's comments were compared to those made regarding athletes returning from doping bans, which she acknowledged was an unfortunate analogy.