While the world is sharpening its focus on the Rio Paralympics Games, Marieke Vervoort, is considering retirement from life and not just the game. The 37-year-old Belgian, who scooped two medals in wheelchair sprint during the London Paralympic Games, is thinking about euthanasia.
"After Rio, I will stop my sports career, I want to see what life brings me and I will try to enjoy the finest moments. I have a bucket list, including stunt flying, and I have started thinking about euthanasia. In spite of my condition, I have been able to experience things that others can only dream of," she was quoted as saying by England's Daily Express.
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The wheelchair champion won the gold medal in 100m and silver in 200m T52 wheelchair sprint at the London Paralympic Games. In the next four years, she has broken many European records and was crowned as the World Champion in 2015. Vervoort 's 35.91 seconds record in the 200m wheelchair race was two seconds off her European record (33.65).
A resident of Diest in north-eastern Belgium, Vervoort has a choice in front of her that's simply not available to so many others. Euthanasia was legalised in Belgium back in 2002, and since there have been around 1,400 cases every year. It can take place with the written consent of three doctors and the law is extended to terminally ill children as well.
She added, "I did not know if I would be in Rio. Of course, I am very happy that there are enough athletes, so the league can continue. After my physical problems I never thought I'd get here, Rio is my last wish."
An accomplished Paralympian, Vervoot, battle constant agony in order to train. Due to her painful degenerative disease, she can only sleep for only short spells at a time. "I train very hard, even if I have to fight day and night against my disease. Every day it hurts, some nights I do not sleep, and after 10 minutes' sleep I have to train."
The former Belgian Paralympian of the year was paralysed back in 2000 when she was struck by a rare disease. After her condition worsened in 2008, she stopped triathlon and started wheelchair sprinting.
She has already made up her mind about ending her life and has set a date in 2017, according to one online publication, La Parisien as well.
