French tennis player, Angelique Cauchy, has come forward to reveal the traumatic experience she endured at the age of 12, at the hands of her coach. Testifying in the French parliament, Cauchy recounted the horrifying incidents involving Andrew Geddes, who was sentenced to 18 years in prison for rape and sexual assault of four young girls in 2021.
According to Cauchy, Geddes subjected her to brutal sexual abuse, which he often recorded at various locations, including his home, car, and the tennis club. Cauchy, who started working with Geddes at Sarcelles Tennis Club when she was 12, explained that the abuse began shortly after she began her training, escalating to 400 instances of rape over two years.
The former tennis player shared harrowing details of her ordeal, describing how Geddes raped her three times a day during a two-week period at a training camp. She also revealed how he manipulated and gaslighted her, even falsely claiming that he had given her AIDS, causing immense emotional distress.
Furthermore, Cauchy disclosed that despite complaints about Geddes’ predatory behavior, the club president chose to turn a blind eye, emphasizing the titles and accolades brought by the coach.
An inquiry has been initiated to address the operational shortcomings within sports federations and governance bodies. Testimonies provided at the Palais Bourbon are expected to influence the forthcoming report, scheduled for release in December.
