Yannick Agnel will stand trial on charges of rape and sexual assault after French prosecutors accused the double Olympic gold medallist of offences against a 13-year-old girl at locations including the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.
The 33-year-old swimmer faces allegations that the acts took place across multiple sites — in Rio during the Olympics, in the French city of Mulhouse where he trained, and in Spain and Thailand, according to French judicial officials.
The complainant is the daughter of Agnel’s former coach. She was 13 at the time of the alleged offences; he was 24.
Agnel was first arrested in December 2021. He has previously acknowledged a relationship with an underage girl but denied any coercion.
Under French law, the age of consent is 15. Legislation introduced in 2021 — prior to which France had no statutory age of consent — classifies sex with anyone under that age as rape, carrying a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment.
Agnel claimed two gold medals at the 2012 London Olympics in the 200-metre freestyle and the 4×100-metre freestyle relay, adding silver in the 4×200-metre relay. He remains the world record holder in the 400-metre freestyle and holds French national records in the 200 and 400-metre events. Swimming World named him European Swimmer of the Year in 2012.
He has 10 days to lodge an appeal with the Court of Cassation, France’s highest court.
