Angelique Cauchy, a former tennis player from France, has shared her story of being raped more than 400 times by her coach when she was only 12 years old.
She spoke in front of the French parliament, as part of an inquiry into the failures of the sports federations and authorities to protect young athletes from sexual abuse.
Testifying in French parliament, the former tennis player told of her horrifying ordeal with Andrew Geddes who was sentenced to 18 years in prison for the rape and sexual assault of four young girls in 2021.
During his trial, the court was told of the 55-year-old’s brutal sexual abuse – which he often recorded – at his home, in his car or at the tennis club.
Ms Cauchy, now 36, met Geddes in 1999 at Sarcelles Tennis Club, Paris, where he was her coach. She was then the second junior player in France.
She said that after a few months, Geddes started to abuse her, telling her that it was normal for a coach and a student to have a sexual relationship.
She recalled how he took her to watch Paris Saint Germain FC games at first, but then escalated his violence and raped her three times a day during a training camp.
She said she felt trapped and suicidal. He brainwashed her so much that she would go to his room voluntarily at night.
“I counted the 13 steps that separated me from his room,” she said.
She also revealed how he lied to her that he had AIDS and that he had infected her. She said this was more destructive than the rape itself. She lived in fear of having AIDS from 13 to 18 years old.
When someone complained about Geddes’ behaviour at the club, the president dismissed it, saying: “Yes, but he brings us titles”.
The inquiry launched in July aims to expose the systemic failures that allowed sexual abuse to happen in sports and is expected to release its report in December.
