AGNEL. Still presumed innocent despite the recognition of the materiality of the facts, Yannick Agnel should be condemned by the courts and risk up to 20 years in prison.
[Mis à jour le 16 décembre à 11h12] Yannick Agnel is in troubled waters. Accused and then indicted for rape of a minor, the former Olympic swimming champion admitted the materiality of the facts, but explained that he did not have the impression of any constraint. Still “presumed innocent” in the words of the prosecutor, the swimmer risks going to jail in the coming days. Indeed, according to article 222-24 of the Penal Code, “rape is punishable by twenty years of criminal imprisonment when it is committed on a minor of 15 years.” A minor of 15 years cannot consent to an act of sexual relations with an adult, except in very specific and determined circumstances “, explains Anne Bouillon, lawyer at the Nantes bar and specialist in violence against women for France Info. The latter evokes with our colleagues the” Romeo and Juliet clause which states that, if the age difference is less than five years, the offense is not characterized. “In the case of Yannick Agnel,” if it is this law which should apply, then that would fall under the scope of the offense and the rape “
Since the affair broke, French swimming has been shocked. Among the reactions, the Olympic champion Florent Manaudou who says he is “surprised” after the accusations. “Like everyone else, we are surprised and shocked, but I am not commenting on an ongoing affair” reacted Florent Manaudou on Monday December 14th from the Etoiles du Sport in Tignes. Alain Bernard was more talkative on his side in an interview with RTL on Monday December 14 as well. “We are surprised by this situation. An investigation is underway, so from there, we cannot position ourselves on one side or the other. We are surprised and stunned (…) Swimming, and sport in particular, is a reflection of society. There will always be thieves and cheaters in society and in sport. People with inappropriate behavior in all universes, whether political, sporting, professional or in business ” .
The Swimming Federation becomes a civil party
“Consequently, in accordance with what had been envisaged by the Federation at the time of the revelation by way of the press of the arrest and the placement in police custody of Mr. Agnel, the decision was officially taken today to constitute itself party civil before the judicial court of Mulhouse in this case, which the Federation deeply deplores. The federal services are at the disposal of the victim to support him in this ordeal and invite him to get closer to his partner association Colosse aux Pieds d ‘ Argile, specializing in the support of victims of sexual violence “communicated the FFN.
What do we know about the rape charges against Yannick Agnel?
According to the prosecutor’s information, the facts go back to the years 2014 -2016 when the swimmer belonged to the Mulhouse club. Yannick Agnel came out of two years of training in the United States, in the wake of his Olympic titles in London in 2012. The swimmer had returned to France and had taken a license at Mulhouse Olympic Swimming in September 2014. He was there. trained for two years under the orders of Lionel Horter.
In a press conference this Monday, December 13, the prosecutor of the Republic of Mulhouse Edwige Roux-Morizot indicated that the former Olympic champion recognized the materiality of the facts with which he is accused even if the latter indicates that the former swimmer ” did not feel that there was coercion “. Specifying the age of the respondent and the complainant at the time of the facts, the prosecutor explained that “if the facts constitute rape it is because you are aware that there is a very difference in age. important between the 13 years of the alleged victim and the 24 years of Yannick Agnel “.
“Yannick Agnel is still presumed innocent,” said the prosecutor, but has already issued that the “constraint” was established according to the prosecutor. “When you have ten years of age difference, it is obvious that it is a real constraint of course. The personality of Agnel which could come into account, it is someone who has a strong personality. This is what characterizes for us the facts of rape and sexual assault “, she declared, adding again:” Yannick Agnel regrets it “.
“Like the majority of rape complaints, a whole psychological process took place with the complainant and which made her decide, because she was ill, to file a complaint,” Edwige Roux told the press. -Morizot. “All the facts took place in 2016. It also happened in Thailand, Rio, and Tenerife I believe. Which suggests that there were several facts.” The investigations are continuing, Yannick Agnel has been placed under judicial supervision and is not imprisoned.
Yannick Agnel in conflict with the Horter clan?
L’Equipe reveals that several swimmers have been auditioned in recent days before the custody of Yannick Agnel. And according to several media, this affair could revive the war between the Horter clan and Yannick Agnel … Yannick Agnel and the Mulhouse club have indeed been in conflict since the swimmer’s retirement. He claims 60,000 euros in unpaid bonuses from the club, which the club contested. In this case, Agnel had won at first instance but the Mulhouse club appealed against the decision.
Who is Yannick Agnel?
Born June 9, 1992, Yannick Agnel is one of the most successful swimmers in French swimming. Barely 20 years old, he won his first three Olympic medals at the London Olympics, including two in gold in the 200m freestyle and the 4x100m relay and a silver medal in the 4×200 relay. On this occasion, he became the first French swimmer to win two gold medals at the same Olympiad. The following year, the Nîmes renewed his performances at the Barcelona World Championships by winning the title in the 200-meter freestyle, and in the 4 × 100-meter relay.
Yannick Agnel retired
It was just after the Rio Olympics in 2016 that Yannick Agnel from Nîmes retired. The man with two Olympic titles will make this decision after his elimination in the 200m freestyle heats. After resuming his studies by integrating Paris-Dauphine University, Yannick Agnel became a consultant for France Télévisions in 2019.
Yannick Agnel and E-sport
The former swimmer is also very involved in the field of E-sport by becoming sports director of the professional team (MCES), an entity based in Marseille which excels at a high level in games like Fortnite, League of Legends or Clash of clans. For the past few months, he has also been hosting an eSport podcast in partnership with France Info and L’Equipe. Asked by Le Figaro, the ex-swimmer explained that he felt good in this new area. “When I stopped swimming, I focused on the areas that seemed to me to be the right decisions but I came up against the reality of things: I was not really passionate about my choices. touch the radiator to realize that it was hot. By funnel effect, I analyzed what I really wanted to work in in the future. And I found what suited me, especially with the E -sport.”
Yannick Agnel and Jordan Pothain
Considered one of the leaders in Rio, had Yannick Agnel let go of the France team? At the time, when he was engaged in the 4x200m relay, Yannick Agnel forfeited, leaving his team all alone. A difficult choice to cash at the time for Jordan Pothain. “Everyone will have their own opinion. We have been bathed in lies, a lot of lies surrounded this relay.” He even added in an interview to The team that “he was dishonest towards his teammates, the people of the France team and towards me as an individual”. The main party responded to the controversy at a press conference, assuring that he would have swam “suffering or not” if the national technical swimming directorate had not replaced him against his will. “Even at 40 fever, I would have got high, he added. Those who know me know that I have never let go of anyone, nor abandoned anyone, let alone my team.”
What is the shoe size of Yannick Agnel?
The Nîmes swimmer has quite impressive measurements. In addition to his 2.02m (he measured 1.93m at 14) and his 90kg, the London Olympic champion wears a 50.