French Olympic swimmer Yannick Agnel is set to go on trial for allegations 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 face trial since he was an adult when the purported offenses took place. Agnel has a window of 10 days to contest the ruling at France’s highest court, the Court of Cassation.
Agnel was taken into custody in December 2021, where he acknowledged a relationship with the minor but refuted any claims of coercion.
The reported incidents trace back to 2016 when the girl was 13 years old and Agnel was 24, allegedly happening in various locations such as Mulhouse, Rio de Janeiro during the Olympics, Spain, and Thailand, according to French judicial authorities.
Agnel, who clinched two gold medals at the 2012 London Olympics in the 200m freestyle and 4x100m freestyle relay, bid adieu to competitive swimming in 2016.
Under France’s 2021 legislation, engaging in sexual activities with individuals under 15 is now classified as rape, carrying a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, bringing the country in line with many other Western nations.