Vervoort gives strong support to right to die
PARALYMPICS: Wheelchair racer suffers from progressive disease
RIO DE JANEIRO — Belgian Paralympian Marieke Vervoort is at peace with her decision to end her own life, eventually, but she is far less happy about recent media coverage of her story.
It has been reported that Vervoort, a 37-year-old wheelchair racer with a rare progressive muscle condition that resulted in paraplegia, would end her life following the Games.
“This is totally out of the question,” she said Sunday, after winning a silver medal in the wheelchair 400-metres. “Yes, this is my last Paralympic Games. I have a progressive disease and I have my euthanasia papers already in 2008 because it’s really, really hard to handle and to suffer with this disease.
“But the euthanasia, it gives me a feeling of rest. I can live with a good feeling, whatever happens, I have my papers in my hand. But I’m still enjoying every single moment. When the moment comes that I have more bad days than good days, then I have my euthanasia papers, but the time is not there yet.” Euthanasia is legal in Belgium. “I hope that euthanasia is something that for every country will not mean murder. That it means that it gives a feeling of rest to the people. If I didn’t have those papers, I think I would have already committed suicide because it’s very hard to live with so many pains and suffering.
“I hope that other countries like Brazil can talk about it and that it’s not taboo anymore, that it makes people live longer, that it doesn’t mean when they sign the papers, that they have to die two weeks after or a few days after.”
Vervoort races again on Saturday, for a final time as a Paralympian, with a shot at a fourth career medal.
Soldier first, swimmer second
When the American anthem was played to honour her gold medal win in the 100-metre breaststroke on Sunday, Elizabeth Marks stood proudly at attention and fought back tears on the podium at the Paralympic pool. She is a soldier first, a swimmer second.
“When I introduce myself, it is as Sgt. Marks, U.S. army. Paralympic swimming is very important but first comes my service,” said the 26-yearold from Prescott, Ariz.
She was seriously wounded in Iraq in 2010 while on duty as a combat medic. Four years later, while en route to compete in the Invictus Games in London, she became critically ill and was placed on life support for 10 days. She has emerged from both life-threatening events a stronger person and athlete. She is also an outspoken advocate for veterans’ rights and health.