WomensHealth
  • News
  • Health
  • Fitness
  • Sex & Love
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Weight Loss
  • Women In Sport
  • Podcasts
  • Video
WomensHealth
  • News
  • Health
  • Fitness
  • Sex & Love
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Weight Loss
  • Women In Sport
  • Podcasts
  • Video
This Simple, Effective Ab Workout Will Shred Your Six-Pack
Watch 0:23

This Simple, Effective Ab Workout Will Shred Your Six-Pack

{headline}

{headline}

Gymnast Samantha Cerio Walks Down Aisle Only Two Months After Breaking Both Legs

Gymnast Samantha Cerio Walks Down Aisle Only Two Months After Breaking Both Legs

Tennis Player Pulls Out Of Aussie Open After Coughing Fit Induced By Bushfire Smoke

Tennis Player Pulls Out Of Aussie Open After Coughing Fit Induced By Bushfire Smoke

Tyler Wright Returns To Surfing After A Virus Left Her Bed-Ridden For 14 Months

Tyler Wright Returns To Surfing After A Virus Left Her Bed-Ridden For 14 Months

6 Of The Biggest Moments For Women In Sport In 2019

6 Of The Biggest Moments For Women In Sport In 2019

{headline}

{headline}

Men And Women To Receive Same Pay For The Rugby Nines Tournament

Men And Women To Receive Same Pay For The Rugby Nines Tournament

A TV Host Has Been Slammed For Making Insanely Racist Remarks About Serena Williams

A TV Host Has Been Slammed For Making Insanely Racist Remarks About Serena Williams

Ronda Rousey Nearly Snapped Her Middle Finger Clean In Two, And She Has The Pics To Prove It

Ronda Rousey Nearly Snapped Her Middle Finger Clean In Two, And She Has The Pics To Prove It

{headline}

{headline}

Gymnast Simone Biles Makes History Hitting The 'Hardest Move In The World' At The U.S. Championships

Gymnast Simone Biles Makes History Hitting The 'Hardest Move In The World' At The U.S. Championships

Australian Olympic Champion Sally Pearson Announces Her Retirement From Athletics

Australian Olympic Champion Sally Pearson Announces Her Retirement From Athletics

The NRL Just Appointed Belinda Sharpe As Its First Female Referee

The NRL Just Appointed Belinda Sharpe As Its First Female Referee

Lauren Parker Went From Elite Triathlete To Elite Paratriathlete 9 Months After Horrific Crash

Lauren Parker Went From Elite Triathlete To Elite Paratriathlete 9 Months After Horrific Crash

How To Set Up A Safe And Productive Home Office

How To Set Up A Safe And Productive Home Office

Ezi Magbegor On Building Mental Strength And Her Biggest Inspiration

Ezi Magbegor On Building Mental Strength And Her Biggest Inspiration

Kim Clijsters Has Made Her Tennis Comeback After a 7-Year Hiatus

Kim Clijsters Has Made Her Tennis Comeback After a 7-Year Hiatus

  1. Home
  2. News

Paralympic Gold Medallist Marieke Vervoort Ends Her Life By Euthanasia

She'd suffered for decades with a degenerative spinal disease. - by Lucy Bode
  • 24 Oct 2019
Paralympic Gold Medallist Marieke Vervoort Ends Her Life By Euthanasia
Getty

Belgian Paralympian Marieke Vervoort has died at the age of 40, after taking her own life via euthanasia.

The gold medal-winning athlete had suffered for decades with a degenerative spinal disease – an incurable condition that left her paralysed from the waist down. She also experienced epileptic seizures and struggled to sleep due to extreme physical pain.

"Despite her physical limitations, she worked out an impressive sports career," a statement from Vervoort's hometown of Diest said.

"Marieke opted for euthanasia a few years ago and responded to her choice on Tuesday evening."

RELATED: Perth Mum Dies After Doctors Her Told She Was “Too Young” For Bowel Cancer

wielemie.marieke.vervoort View Profile
682 likes - View Post on Instagram
Thanks Koen Wauters for your nice visit in the hospital!

Her efforts in wheelchair racing saw Vervoort take home gold and silver medals during the 2012 Paralympics in London, as well as two more medals at the 2016 Paralympic games in Rio. In a previous interview with the BBC, she explained how sport had played a huge role her day-to-day pain management.

"It can be that I feel very, very bad, I get an epileptic attack, I cry, I scream because of pain. I need a lot of painkillers, Valium, morphine," she told the publication.

"A lot of people ask me how is it possible that you can have such good results and still be smiling with all the pain and medication that eats your muscles. For me, sports, and racing with a wheelchair — it's a kind of medication.”

wielemie.marieke.vervoort View Profile
1,433 likes - View Post on Instagram
Can't forget the good memories!

Belgium is just one of five countries where human euthanasia is legal. The others include the Netherlands, Colombia, Luxembourg and Canada.

RELATED: This Woman Wrote Her Own Obituary Before Dying Of Cancer – Now It’s Going Viral

  • News
  • Health
  • Women In Sport
Lucy Bode
Lucy Bode
Lucy is Women Health’s digital editor, social media specialist and the go-to girl for all things holistic wellness. Her background as a journalist and passion for food, fitness and integrative medicine has led her to write for some of Australia’s leading publications over the course of her career.

Subscribe Now-6 Issues just $39

Subscribe Now
Subscribe Now

Subscribe Now-6 Issues just $39

Subscribe Now
Subscribe Now

Recommended to you

This Simple, Effective Ab Workout Will Shred Your Six-Pack
Watch 0:23

This Simple, Effective Ab Workout Will Shred Your Six-Pack

{headline}

{headline}

Gymnast Samantha Cerio Walks Down Aisle Only Two Months After Breaking Both Legs

Gymnast Samantha Cerio Walks Down Aisle Only Two Months After Breaking Both Legs

Tennis Player Pulls Out Of Aussie Open After Coughing Fit Induced By Bushfire Smoke

Tennis Player Pulls Out Of Aussie Open After Coughing Fit Induced By Bushfire Smoke

Tyler Wright Returns To Surfing After A Virus Left Her Bed-Ridden For 14 Months

Tyler Wright Returns To Surfing After A Virus Left Her Bed-Ridden For 14 Months

6 Of The Biggest Moments For Women In Sport In 2019

6 Of The Biggest Moments For Women In Sport In 2019

{headline}

{headline}

Men And Women To Receive Same Pay For The Rugby Nines Tournament

Men And Women To Receive Same Pay For The Rugby Nines Tournament

A TV Host Has Been Slammed For Making Insanely Racist Remarks About Serena Williams

A TV Host Has Been Slammed For Making Insanely Racist Remarks About Serena Williams

Ronda Rousey Nearly Snapped Her Middle Finger Clean In Two, And She Has The Pics To Prove It

Ronda Rousey Nearly Snapped Her Middle Finger Clean In Two, And She Has The Pics To Prove It

{headline}

{headline}

Gymnast Simone Biles Makes History Hitting The 'Hardest Move In The World' At The U.S. Championships

Gymnast Simone Biles Makes History Hitting The 'Hardest Move In The World' At The U.S. Championships

Australian Olympic Champion Sally Pearson Announces Her Retirement From Athletics

Australian Olympic Champion Sally Pearson Announces Her Retirement From Athletics

The NRL Just Appointed Belinda Sharpe As Its First Female Referee

The NRL Just Appointed Belinda Sharpe As Its First Female Referee

Lauren Parker Went From Elite Triathlete To Elite Paratriathlete 9 Months After Horrific Crash

Lauren Parker Went From Elite Triathlete To Elite Paratriathlete 9 Months After Horrific Crash

How To Set Up A Safe And Productive Home Office

How To Set Up A Safe And Productive Home Office

Ezi Magbegor On Building Mental Strength And Her Biggest Inspiration

Ezi Magbegor On Building Mental Strength And Her Biggest Inspiration

Kim Clijsters Has Made Her Tennis Comeback After a 7-Year Hiatus

Kim Clijsters Has Made Her Tennis Comeback After a 7-Year Hiatus

WomensHealth
  • About Paragon Media
  • Contact Paragon Media
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Statement
  • About Paragon Media
  • Contact Paragon Media
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Statement

Brands

Our Network

  • Paragon Media Pty Ltd
  • Men’s Health
© 2021 Are Media PTY LTD
Get more from

Magazine Subscription Offer

Subscribe Now-6 Issues just $39

Shop This Offer
Subscribe Now