Today I'd like to dedicate my post to Marieke Vervoort. Up until this morning I had no idea who she is. It's sad that we don't really know paralympians they are not so famous.
Marieke Vervoort died by euthanasia on Tuesday aged 40 after a battle with an incurable and degenerative spinal condition which she described after winning her medals as becoming harder and harder to bear. source
This is the most heartbreaking news I got today. There were others as well unfortunately but this is very different. When you decide to end your life yourself, that is heartbreaking.
2012 London Paralympic Games was her main event as she won the gold medal in the T52 100m wheelchair race and the silver medal in the T52 200m wheelchair race. The last one was also an excellent performance from her s she set a European record.
Paralympians deserve a great respect for putting all the effort needed to compete in a race with their injuries or disabilities. Imagine how hard it is to train for top competitions like the Olympics or a World championship. How hard it must be to train every day and also deal with your illness or disability. And yet these brave paralympians are doing that.
Marieke Vervoort was 40 years old and was suffering from a painful and a muscle disease, an incurable and degenerative spinal disease. What is said is that she had signed the euthanasia papers in 2008, more than ten years ago in Belgium as in Belgium euthanasia is legal.
source
Marieke Vervoort with her loyal friend and helper.
This post is I believe the shortest I've ever posted. I just wanted to say R.I.P. Marieke Vervoort. I kind of know what it means to make a decision regarding your life and understand how hard it is. She was a brave woman. Rest in peace Marieke!