Vicente Modahl, a former Olympic coach who previously collaborated with Team GB athletes, faces charges related to alleged child sexual offenses and rape. The 65-year-old Norwegian, husband of ex-Olympic middle-distance runner Diane Modahl, is accused of two instances of child rape and five cases of sexually assaulting a child.
Known as Jose Vicente Leiva-Modahl, Modahl resided in the UK before and is also facing charges of two incidents of inducing a child into sexual activity and two acts of penetration assault on a child.
The Crown Prosecution Service has brought forward a case against Modahl with a total of 19 charges covering the period from 2012 to 2024. These charges comprise two counts of adult female rape, two counts of adult female sexual assault, one count of adult female sexual activity inducement, two counts of adult female penetration assault, and one count of controlling and coercive behavior.
James Bolton-Smith, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor for the CPS’s Organised Child Sexual Abuse Unit, stated, “The Crown Prosecution Service has chosen to press charges against Vicente Leiva-Modahl for various serious sexual offenses, including those involving child sexual abuse.” Modahl is scheduled to appear in Manchester Magistrates Court next Tuesday.
Over the years, Modahl coached British and international athletes, including Team GB members and at least one Olympic gold medalist, spanning multiple decades. His LinkedIn profile also highlights his involvement as a FIFA-licensed sports agent.
Emphasizing the ongoing legal proceedings, the CPS emphasized, “We caution all parties that the case against the accused is active, and he is entitled to a fair trial. It is crucial to avoid any reporting, commentary, or online sharing that could potentially prejudice the legal process.”