Athlete’s euthanasia plan

A WHEELCHAIR sprinter with an incurable degenerative disease is considering euthanasia after the Rio games.

Marieke Vervoort, 3 , who won gold in London in 2012, says the pain caused by her spinal condition has made her think about ending her life.

The Belgian’s illness causes a paralysis in her legs while bringing on regular fits. She is hoping for gold in the T52 100m and 400m but says Rio will be her final Paralympics.

She said: ‘After that, we’ll see what life brings…I’m starting to think about euthanasia. Everybody sees me happy…They don’t see the other part of me. I can have lots and lots of pain. I sleep sometimes only ten minutes.’