Ex-Olympic coach pleads not guilty to sex assaults

Runner's ex gets 2028 trial

- BY PAUL JEEVES Crime Editor

Modahl and his former wife Diane in 2000

A FORMER Olympic coach has denied raping and sexually assaulting a child.

Jose Vicente Leiva-Modahl, 65, pleaded not guilty to 19 charges as they were put to him yesterday.

Judge Nicholas Dean KC said he had, with regret, to adjourn his trial for three years, until September 4, 2028, as this was the first available date his case could go before a jury.

The defendant, who goes by the name Vicente Modahl and is the ex-husband of former Commonwealth 800m champion Diane Modahl, denies five counts of rape, four counts of serious assault, six counts of sexual assault and two counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.