French Olympic Swimmer Agnel to Stand Trial for Assault

French Olympic swimming champion Yannick Agnel has been ordered to stand trial on charges of assault and sexual assault involving the 13-year-old daughter of his former coach, following a decision by an appeals court in Colmar, northeast France. The ruling, issued Thursday, rejected Agnel's appeal against the charges and directs the case to the assize court in the Haut-Rhin department, where a trial date has yet to be set. The 33-year-old athlete has 10 days to challenge the decision at France's highest court, the Court of Cassation.

Agnel, a two-time gold medalist at the 2012 London Olympics in the 200-meter freestyle and the 4x100-meter freestyle relay, was 24 at the time of the alleged offenses in 2016. Prosecutors in Colmar stated that the incidents occurred between late December 2015 and late August 2016 in multiple locations, including Mulhouse, where Agnel trained; Rio de Janeiro during the Olympics; Tenerife in Spain; and Thailand. The accuser, who is now in her early 20s, was 13 when the relationship began, according to judicial officials.

Agnel was arrested in December 2021 as part of the investigation, which led to his indictment five months later. During questioning,...