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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Rio 2016: Belgian Paralympian 'not ready' for euthanasia | Rio 2016: Belgian Paralympian 'not ready' for euthanasia |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Belgian Paralympian Marieke Vervoort, who suffers from an incurable degenerative muscle disease, says she will choose euthanasia, but not yet. | The Belgian Paralympian Marieke Vervoort, who suffers from an incurable degenerative muscle disease, says she will choose euthanasia, but not yet. |
| The wheelchair racer, who won a silver medal on Saturday in the 400m, said she signed euthanasia papers in 2008. | The wheelchair racer, who won a silver medal on Saturday in the 400m, said she signed euthanasia papers in 2008. |
| The Belgian press had reported she might take her life after Rio, but she rejected the speculation at a news conference following her victory. | The Belgian press had reported she might take her life after Rio, but she rejected the speculation at a news conference following her victory. |
| She said she was "still enjoying every little moment". | She said she was "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 told journalists in Rio. | "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 told journalists in Rio. |
| Euthanasia is legal in Belgium. | Euthanasia is legal in Belgium. |
| The 37-year-old suffers from a degenerative muscle disease that causes constant pain, seizures, paralysis in her legs and leaves her barely able to sleep. | The 37-year-old suffers from a degenerative muscle disease that causes constant pain, seizures, paralysis in her legs and leaves her barely able to sleep. |
| 'Marieke Vervoort: Euthanasia would be a feeling of rest' | 'Marieke Vervoort: Euthanasia would be a feeling of rest' |
| She was just 14 when the diagnosis was made and gradually her life became "a constant battle". | She was just 14 when the diagnosis was made and gradually her life became "a constant battle". |
| In spite of it, she achieved a distinguished career in wheelchair racing, winning 100m gold and 200m silver in the 2012 London Olympics, and now a silver medal in Rio. | In spite of it, she achieved a distinguished career in wheelchair racing, winning 100m gold and 200m silver in the 2012 London Olympics, and now a silver medal in Rio. |
| But the punishing training schedule is proving too hard. This was her last Paralympics, she confirmed, making her Rio achievement bitter-sweet. | But the punishing training schedule is proving too hard. This was her last Paralympics, she confirmed, making her Rio achievement bitter-sweet. |
| "It's a feeling of 'Yes, I won a silver medal'", she told the BBC. "But there is also another side to the medal, the side of suffering and of saying goodbye to the sport. Because I love the sport, sport is my life." | |
| The possibility of euthanasia gave her the courage to keep going as long as she has, she says, adding that euthanasia must not be characterised as "murder." | |
| "It gives a feeling of rest to people," she says. "I know when it's enough for me, I have those papers." | "It gives a feeling of rest to people," she says. "I know when it's enough for me, I have those papers." |
| What's the law in Belgium? | What's the law in Belgium? |
| Which countries allow assisted dying? | Which countries allow assisted dying? |
| Belgium divided on euthanasia for children | Belgium divided on euthanasia for children |