Vicente Modahl, a former Olympic coach who previously worked with Team GB athletes, is facing charges related to alleged child sex offences and rape. The 65-year-old Norwegian, who is the spouse of former Olympic middle-distance runner Diane Modahl, is accused of two counts of child rape and five counts of child sexual assault.
Known by his full name Jose Vicente Leiva-Modahl, Modahl resided in the UK before these charges were brought against him. In addition to the aforementioned charges, he is also facing accusations of two counts of causing a child to participate in sexual activities and two counts of assaulting a child by penetration.
The Crown Prosecution Service has disclosed that Modahl faces a total of 19 charges spanning from 2012 to 2024. These charges include two counts of raping an adult female, two counts of sexually assaulting an adult female, one count of causing an adult female to engage in sexual activities, two counts of assaulting an adult female by penetration, and one count of controlling and coercive behavior.
James Bolton-Smith, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor for the CPS’s Organized Child Sexual Abuse Unit, confirmed the decision to prosecute Vicente Leiva-Modahl on various serious sex-related offenses, including those linked to child sexual abuse. Modahl is scheduled to appear in Manchester Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
Throughout his professional journey, the Norwegian coach has mentored British and international athletes, including Team GB members and at least one Olympic gold medalist, over several decades. His LinkedIn profile also highlights his involvement as a FIFA-licensed sports agent.
Emphasizing the importance of fair trial proceedings, the CPS issued a statement reminding the public that the case against the suspect is active, and any reporting or sharing of information online that could potentially bias the legal process must be avoided to ensure a fair trial for all parties involved.
