French Olympic swimmer Yannick Agnel is facing trial on charges of rape and sexual assault involving the 13-year-old daughter of his former coach, as confirmed by the prosecutor general’s office in Colmar.
The investigative chamber of the Colmar appeals court has mandated the 33-year-old to stand trial, citing that he was an adult during the alleged incidents. Agnel has a 10-day window to contest this ruling at the Court of Cassation, France’s highest court.
Agnel was taken into custody in December 2021 and acknowledged a relationship with the minor but refuted any claims of coercion.
The accusations stem from 2016 when the girl was 13 and Agnel was 24, with purported incidents occurring in various locations such as Mulhouse, Rio de Janeiro, Spain, and Thailand, as per French judicial authorities.
Having clinched two gold medals at the 2012 London Olympics in the 200m freestyle and 4x100m freestyle relay, Agnel retired from professional swimming in 2016.
Under France’s updated law in 2021, engaging in sexual activities with individuals under 15 is now classified as rape, carrying a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, aligning the legislation with standards in numerous Western countries.