French Olympic swimming champion Yannick Agnel has been formally charged and will stand trial for the alleged rape and sexual assault of a teenage girl, prosecutors have confirmed.
Details of the Allegations and Legal Proceedings
The prosecutor general's office in Colmar stated that the 33-year-old retired athlete will face trial for acts alleged to have occurred in 2016. At that time, Agnel was 24 years old, while the girl was just 13.
The alleged incidents are said to have taken place across several international locations, including the French city of Mulhouse, where Agnel was training, as well as Rio de Janeiro during the Olympic Games, Spain, and Thailand.
Agnel was first arrested in December 2021. During that initial investigation, he reportedly admitted to having a relationship with an under-age girl but denied any coercion. His legal representative has not yet responded to recent requests for comment.
A Career in the Spotlight and a Swift Fall
Yannick Agnel was a celebrated figure in French sport, winning two gold medals at the London 2012 Olympics. His victories came in the 200-metre freestyle and the 4x100-metre freestyle relay. He retired from professional swimming in 2016, the same year the alleged offences are said to have begun.
The case against him is strengthened by a significant legal change in France. In 2021, France passed a law that characterises sex with a child under 15 as rape, punishable by up to 20 years in prison. This brought French law closer to standards in many other Western nations.
Investigation and Wider Implications
According to French media, the investigation was launched after a fellow swimmer, who trained with Agnel in Mulhouse between 2014 and 2016, filed a lawsuit. The investigation has seen several swimmers, both current and retired, questioned by authorities.
Agnel now has a 10-day window to appeal to France's highest court, the Court of Cassation. The decision to proceed to trial hinges on the fact he was an adult at the time of the alleged acts, while the victim was a minor.
This case sends shockwaves through the sporting world, highlighting ongoing issues of safeguarding and accountability. The trial will be closely watched as a test of France's updated legal framework for prosecuting sexual offences against children.
