Retired Olympic Coach Denies Decades-Old Rape and Assault Charges

In a shocking development, a former Olympic athletics coach has been accused of a series of disturbing charges, including the rape and sexual assault of a child. Jose Vicente Leiva-Modahl, known as Vicente Modahl, appeared at Manchester Crown Court on November 17, 2025, where he pleaded not guilty to 19 charges.

The 65-year-old ex-Team GB coach was charged by the Crown Prosecution Service last month for alleged offenses that occurred between 2012 and 2024, involving a single female victim who cannot be identified. The charges include five counts of rape, four counts of assault by penetration, six counts of sexual assault, two counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, one count of causing a person to engage in sexual activity, and one count of coercive or controlling behavior.

Despite the gravity of the allegations, the judge, Nicholas Dean KC, was forced to set a provisional trial date for September 4, 2028, due to the backlog of cases in the court system. "It is a stark contrast to a position we would be in if this defendant was in custody, we would be trying the case in the summer of next year," the judge remarked.

Modahl was released on conditional bail ahead of the case management hearing scheduled for June 2026, as the justice system struggles to keep up with the volume of cases. This delay in justice has only added to the outrage surrounding this high-profile case, leaving the public to wonder how long the alleged victim will have to wait for a resolution.