2016 Rio Paralympics: Belgian Marieke Vervoort plays down reports of imminent euthanasia

BELGIAN Paralympian Marieke Vervoort is still considering euthanasia to escape a life of unbearable physical pain — only not quite yet.

Marieke Vervoort shows off her silver medal in Rio.

BELGIAN Paralympian Marieke Vervoort is still considering euthanasia to escape a life of unbearable physical pain — only not quite yet.

Vervoort, who won silver in the 400m wheelchair race in Rio, played down reports ahead of the Paralympics that she had planned to be euthanised, which is legal in Belgium, right after the Games.

“I have my (euthanasia) papers in my hand, but I’m still enjoying every little moment. When the moment comes when I have more bad days than good days, then I have my euthanasia papers, but the time is not there yet,” she said.

However, she confirmed that this would be her last competition and that she had signed the paperwork to be euthanised back in 2008.

Vervoort, 37, suffers a degenerative muscle disease that causes constant pain and leaves her barely able to sleep.

Marieke Vervoort is going ‘to put energy into family and friends.’

A Paralympic 100m gold medallist and 200m silver medallist in the 2012 London Games, her silver in Rio caps a distinguished career in a sport that she loves — and sustains her will to live.

Next comes trying to appreciate her life off the track, she said, but euthanasia will always be there as an option if things get too painful.

“After the Paralympic Games, when I quit, I’m going to enjoy every little moment in my life and I’m going to put more energy in my family and friends, which I couldn’t do with top sports because I had to train every day,” she said.

Vervoort described her physical condition as a constant battle, saying her eyesight was “very bad. I see only 20 per cent and I have a lot of epileptic attacks. What’s next?”

The ability to be legally euthanised, she said, had actually given her the courage to keep going as long as she has.

“It gives a feeling of rest to people. If I hadn’t gotten those (euthanasia) papers I think I would already have committed suicide because it’s very hard to live with so much pain and suffering and this unsureness,” she said.

“I know when it’s enough for me, I have those papers.”

Originally published as 2016 Rio Paralympics: Belgian Marieke Vervoort plays down reports of imminent euthanasia