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The 37-year-old, who won a silver medal in the 400 meters
wheelchair race on Saturday, suffers from an incurable and
degenerative spinal condition and signed euthanasia papers in
2008 in Belgium, where it is legal.
Belgian media reported before the Games that she might take her
life after Rio, but Vervoort rejected the reports in an
emotional media conference on Sunday.
"I have my (euthanasia) papers in my hand, but I'm still
enjoying every little moment," she told reporters.
"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."
Vervoort, who was diagnosed with the painful condition as a
teenager and won Paralympic gold in the 100m and silver in the
200m in the London Games in 2012, confirmed that the Rio Games
would be her last competitive appearance.
She added that having the choice to end her life gave her hope
and strength and encouraged a dialogue on assisted dying in
countries around the world.
"When I didn't have those papers, I would have committed
suicide," she said.
"I hope other countries like Brazil can talk about it. It makes
people live longer. It doesn't mean that when people sign the
papers, they have to die two weeks later. I signed my papers in
2008. Look now, 2016 and I won the silver medal.
"Now my fear of death is gone. Assisted death is something like
they operate on you, you go to sleep and never wake. It feels
like it will be peaceful. I don't want to suffer when I die."
(Writing by Simon Jennings in Bengaluru; editing by Amlan
Chakraborty)
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