In 2008, she received and signed euthanasia papers -assisted suicide is legal in Belgium – but refuted earlier media reports that she was planning to end her life following the Rio Games.
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“It’s a feeling of ‘Yes, I won a silver medal, ‘” she told The BBC.
At age 15 Vervoort was diagnosed with a rare progressive muscle condition, which resulted in paraplegia. “I see it as an operation, where you go to sleep and never wake up”.
Vervoort has turned to Buddhism to help her cope with her condition, while she has also made a “bucket list” of things she wants to do before she dies including skydiving, flying in an F16 jet and competing in a rally race.
But in a press conference after her win on Sunday, Vervoort, a strong advocate of the right to euthanasia, told journalists that reports in the Flemish press had been misunderstood, saying suicide now was “totally out of the question” for her at the moment.
“When it becomes too much for me to handle then I have my life in my own hands”.
“It means a lot for me and I hope that other countries like Brazil [where euthanasia is illegal] can talk about it and that it’s no taboo any more – that it makes people live longer”. I signed my papers in 2008.
In the meantime, Vervoort is determined to conquer some other challenges – including skydiving, race vehicle driving, and flying an F16 fighter jet – while she is able enough. Vervoort stressed that she had no intention of becoming one of this number until her anguish grew unbearable.
“If I didn’t have those papers, I think I’d have committed suicide already”.
Said the 28-year-old Dias: “I confess”. I don’t know how she feels it’.
“I’m going to cry very hard because it’s my last time that I will be in a racing chair”.
“She has been an extraordinary example for athletes, both able-bodied and those with disabilities”, he said, pointing out how she motivates athletes to “give it their all”.
The athlete added that she keeps pushing back the day of her death, knowing it could come anytime – as it can for anyone.
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She wants to be remembered as the lady who was “always laughing, always smiling”. If you see me years ago, I was able to draw attractive arts, now it’s impossible.
