Alexis de la Fléchère / Photo credits: Screenshot BFMTV 09:59, September 07, 2023, modified at 10:03, September 07, 2023

Former tennis player Angelique Cauchy returned this week to the rape she suffered when she was 12 years old. She was raped nearly 400 times by her coach from the Sarcelles club. An appalling story that she has just told before a commission of inquiry, to identify operational failures within sports federations.

TESTIMONY

She experienced the horror. Before a commission of inquiry, which aims to identify operational failures within sports federations, former tennis player Angélique Cauchy returned in detail to her history. Since she was twelve, she has been raped nearly 400 times by her coach of the Sarcelles club, now convicted. A chilling testimony, collected by Europe 1.

Inappropriate behaviour towards youth reported

"One day, he tackled me into the bathroom airlock, he kissed me on the mouth. I said, 'No, we shouldn't! It's not good, I don't want to!' And he said, 'But what? You know that it happens a lot between coaching and coaching, we spend so much time together." I didn't want him at all, he was my mother's age, it seems crazy," said the player.

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Angélique Cauchy also recalls that at the time, only one person had decided to talk to the president of the club, describing inappropriate behavior towards young people, with verbal and physical violence. But the latter had brushed off the alert out of hand, pointing to the fact that the coach was "bringing back titles" to the club.

"Before I was thirteen, he had already raped me. I thought so many times about committing suicide... I still thank every day when I wake up, the little girl of twelve years that I was, for having chosen life. I died a little bit at twelve years old but it is thanks to her that I am here today, "she confides before the commission of inquiry. The former second French player in the juniors also explains that she had never spoken until now to protect her family. The coach of Angelique Cauchy was sentenced to 18 years in prison in 2021 for raping and sexually assaulting four girls aged 12 to 17.