rape and sexual assault investigation now complete

The investigation into rape and sexual assault opened against swimmer Yannick Agnel is now complete, France Bleu Alsace reported on Friday March 8, confirming information from RTL. She had been opened for acts dating back to 2016 against the daughter of her ex-trainer, Lionel Horter. The Mulhouse public prosecutor’s office indicates that the investigating judge issued the judicial information and informed the civil parties. They had 10 days to appeal this settlement order.

The teenager who accused the swimmer had filed a complaint during the summer of 2021. In December 2021, the double Olympic swimming champion at the London Olympics, then world champion in Barcelona in 2013, was indicted for rape and sexual assault on a minor aged 15. He admitted to investigators that he had a relationship with the 13-year-old girl, even though he was 24 at the time of the events.

The prosecution then explained that the accused had admitted “the materiality of the facts” which took place in 2016 on several occasions in different locations, in Mulhouse – where Yannick Angel trained – but also at the victim’s home, in Riedisheim, and during training sessions in Thailand. For his part, the swimmer denies having exerted the slightest constraint on the victim, which the Mulhouse prosecutor disputes, emphasizing the influence he may have had over her due, in particular, to his status as Olympic champion.

A trial in the coming months

The prosecution will now make its final indictment, where it sets out its vision of the case. The trial should then be held in the coming months. For her part, the victim’s lawyer did not wish to comment.

Yannick Agnel was also heard in January 2023 for a second case of sexual assault but he was placed under the status of assisted witness and not indicted.