The prosecutor of the Republic of Mulhouse Edwige Roux-Morizot gave a first press conference on the Yannick Agnel affair on Monday. The former swimmer was indicted for rape and sexual assault on a minor under 15 on Saturday. A complaint filed by the daughter of his former trainer, 13 years old at the time of the facts.
The former Olympic champion was released after his indictment and placed under judicial supervision, despite the requisition of the provisional detention of the Mulhouse prosecutor’s office.
Yannick Agnel acknowledged the materiality of the facts
“Yannick Agnel recognized the materiality of the facts“, explains the prosecutor of Mulhouse.”He didn’t feel like he was forcing the girl“, specifies Edwige Roux-Morizot”there is a significant age difference. This falls within the scope of the law. Yannick Agnel was 24 years old at the time of the incident.”
The teenager was 13 at the time of the incident, so there was eleven years of age difference between the two people. “I think he regrets not having, at the material time, sufficiently reflected on this age difference”, adds the prosecutor.
She also emphasizes the aura that surrounded the swimmer at the time, gold medalist at the Olympics and at the world championships: “A champion, with a strong personality”, which can represent a form of pressure on the young girl.
The facts unfolded throughout 2016
Another element: the duration during which the facts took place and the multiplicity of places. “Throughout the year 2016”, specifies Edwige Roux-Morizot, “on Mulhouse, Riedisheim (a town near Mulhouse), abroad, Thailand, Rio, and Tenerife, I believe “.
To view this Twitter content, you must accept cookies Social Networks.
These cookies make it possible to share or react directly on the social networks to which you are connected or to integrate content initially posted on these social networks. They also allow social networks to use your visits to our sites and applications for personalization and targeting advertising.
The complaint, “very detailed” was filed in July, the judicial investigation opened in August. The context of the case is particular: Yannick Agnel is in financial conflict with his former club Mulhouse. MON was ordered to pay him 60,000 euros for unfulfilled contracts. When questioned on this subject, the prosecutor replied that there was no “no direct link with the complaint” against the former swimmer. The financial dispute should be judged on appeal in 2022, according to the magistrate.
Yannick Agnel is placed under judicial supervision. He does not have the right to leave the inner suburbs of Paris, he does not have the right to go to Mulhouse or to come into contact with his agent and the members of the Horter family. The prosecution had requested a placement in detention, in particular because of the media coverage of the case, but the judge of freedoms and detention decided otherwise.
One of the finest achievements in French swimming
Besides the MON (2024-2016), Yannick Agnel was also a resident of the Olympique Nice Natation (ONN) between 2006 and 2014. Double Olympic champion in London in 2012 in the 200 meters freestyle and the 4×100 meters relay, before d he was crowned world champion in these two disciplines in 2013. The swimmer, born in Nîmes, ended his international career in 2016 after his elimination at the Rio Olympics.
