![]() Vervoort during the Run to walk again event in Tongerlo, September 2012 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Nickname | Wielemie[1][2][3] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
National team | Belgium | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | [4] Diest, Belgium[3][5] | 10 May 1979|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Died | 22 October 2019 Diest, Belgium[6] | (aged 40)|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Country | Belgium | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sport | Wheelchair racing | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Disability class | T52 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Event(s) | T52 100m, 200m, 400m, 1,500m, 5,000m | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Marieke Vervoort (10 May 1979 – 22 October 2019) was a Belgian Paralympic athlete with reflex sympathetic dystrophy. She won several medals at the Paralympics, and she received worldwide attention in 2016 when she revealed that she was considering euthanasia.
Career
[edit]Vervoort began her career in sports playing wheelchair basketball,[2][7] then took up swimming,[2] and competed in triathlons.[2][7][8] She was paratriathlon world champion in 2006[2] and 2007,[3] and in 2007, competed in the Ironman Triathlon in Hawaii.[2][3] She retired from triathlons when her condition became worse.[3] Instead, she started blokarting[3] and then wheelchair racing.[3]
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In the 2012 London Paralympic Games, she won the gold medal in the T52 100m wheelchair race,[1][3][7][9][10] and the silver medal in the T52 200m wheelchair race.[3][7][9]
In 2013, she set a new European record of 33.65 in the T52 200m race at Oordegem, Belgium.[11][12][13] She also set world records in the T52 400m at Kortrijk, Belgium,[14] and the T52 800m at Oordegem in 2013.[15]
The same year, while competing at the IPC Athletics World Championships at Lyon, France, Vervoort fell during the 800m race after a collision with Michelle Stilwell of Canada.[16] She injured her shoulder,[3][17][18] requiring surgery and ten months of rehabilitation.[3][17] Her next competition was in 2014, at the ParAthletics IPC Athletics Grand Prix held at Nottwil, Switzerland,[17] where she won the 200m,[17] as well as the 1,500m and 5,000m, in both of which she set new world records.[18][19][20] Later that same year, she suffered another setback. While making pasta, she lost consciousness, accidentally poured hot water over herself and sustained second-degree and third-degree burn wounds from the chest down to her ankles.[21]
At the 2015 IPC Athletics World Championships in Doha, she won gold medals in the T52 100m, 200m and 400m races,[22] and became world champion.[8] She covered 200 meters in 35.91,[23] which was two seconds slower than her European record, prior to her accident.[9][17]
At the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Paralympic Games, she won the silver medal in the T51/52 400m wheelchair race and bronze in the T51/52 100m.[7][22]
Personal life
[edit]Vervoort began experiencing symptoms at the age of 14 of what would later be diagnosed as reflex sympathetic dystrophy: an incurable degenerative disease of the muscles and spine,[5] which caused severe pain, paralysis in her legs, and made it very difficult for her to sleep.[7][24] Despite her sporting success, Vervoort said that she was considering euthanasia as she was preparing for the 2016 Rio Paralympics, saying that Rio was her "last wish".[25] She clarified that this did not mean euthanasia would occur immediately after the Games, stating that: "You have to live day-by-day and enjoy the little moments. When the day comes—when I have more bad days than good days—I have my euthanasia papers. But the time is not there yet."[26] She signed her euthanasia papers in 2008.[27] Vervoort also had epilepsy,[7][24] and lived with her assistance dog, Zenn,[22][28] who was able to alert her to an upcoming seizure an hour before it occurred.[7][24]
She died by euthanasia on 22 October 2019.[7][24][22][29][30][31] Her decision was supported by other Paralympians, such as Briton Ollie Hynd.
Writing
[edit]Vervoort was the author of two books, Wielemie. Sporten voor het leven ("Wielemie. Sports for life") (Houtekiet, 2012),[33][34] and De andere kant van de medaille ("The other side of the coin") (2017), about her degenerative muscle disease and its impact on her life.[34]
Honors and recognition
[edit]- 2012 – Belgian Paralympian of the Year[35]
- 2013 – Grand Officer of the Order of the Crown (Belgium)[3][36]
- 2014 – National Trophy Victor Boin[18]
- 2015 – Belgian Paralympian of the Year[37]
- 2015 – Vlaamse Reus (Flemish Giant award )[38]
- 2016 – Decoration of the Flemish Community from Prime Minister Geert Bourgeois[29]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Sage, Adam (23 October 2019). "Paralympian Marieke Vervoort ends her life through euthanasia". The Times. London, England. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f "Marieke Vervoort, athlète paralympique souffrant d'une maladie incurable, est morte par euthanasie". Le Monde (in French). Paris, France. Le Monde / AFP. 23 October 2019. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Hope, Alan (26 November 2013). "Face of Flanders: Marieke Vervoort". Flanders Today. Belgium. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
- ^ "Paralympian Marieke Vervoort dies through euthanasia". 23 October 2019 – via www.rte.ie.
- ^ a b "Diest – mijn stad. EXPO 100% Wielemie" (PDF). Sportimonium. 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 October 2019. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
- ^ "Paralympian Marieke Vervoort dies by voluntary euthanasia, aged 40". ABC News. 23 October 2019. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Paralympian Marieke Vervoort dies by voluntary euthanasia". ABC News. Australia. AFP/AP. 23 October 2019. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
- ^ a b "Paralympic gold medallist Marieke Vervoort ends life through euthanasia". The Independent. London, England. 23 October 2019. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
- ^ a b c "Marieke Vervoort is wereldkampioene op de 200 meter". Sporza (in Dutch). Belgium. Archived from the original on 14 September 2016. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
- ^ "Paralympic Team Belgium". Paralympic Team Belgium. Archived from the original on 6 July 2019. Retrieved 23 October 2019. Retrieved 23 October 2019
- ^ Van Glabeke, Simon (7 July 2013). "Sara Aerts en Marieke Vervoort presteren sterk in Oordegem". Atletiek Nieuws (in Dutch). Retrieved 24 October 2019.
- ^ "Europees record voor Wielemie". De Standaard (in Dutch). Belgium. 10 July 2013. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
- ^ "2016 IPC Athletics European Championships, Grosseto" (PDF). International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
- ^ "World Para Athletics World Records Women's 400 m". World Para Athletics. International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
- ^ "World Para Athletics World Records Women's 800 m". World Para Athletics. International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
- ^ "Lyon 2013 - Day five morning session review". IPC Athletics World Championships. 24 July 2013. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
- ^ a b c d e "Rolstoelatlete Marieke Vervoort wint meteen bij comeback". Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). Belgium. 17 May 2014. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
- ^ a b c "Marieke Vervoort awarded the National Trophy Victor Boin 2014". World Para Athletics. 22 January 2015. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
- ^ "World Para Athletics World Records Women's 1500 m". World Para Athletics. International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
- ^ "World Para Athletics World Records Women's 5000 m". World Para Athletics. International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
- ^ "Wielemie zwaar verbrand in keuken". Het Laatste Nieuws (in Dutch). Belgium. 1 September 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
- ^ a b c d Marieke Vervoort: Paralympian ends life through euthanasia at age of 40 Archived 23 October 2019 at the Wayback Machine, BBC Sport, 22 October 2019.
- ^ "Marieke Vervoort pakt ook goud op 100 meter tijdens WK atletiek voor paralympiërs". De Standaard (in Dutch). Belgium. 26 October 2015. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
- ^ a b c d "Paralympic gold medalist Marieke Vervoort ends her life in Belgium". The Guardian. Associated Press. 23 October 2019. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
- ^ Paralympics champion considers euthanasia as she announces Rio will be last competition Archived 28 August 2016 at the Wayback Machine, Katie Mansfield, 1 August 2016, Express, Retrieved 20 August 2016
- ^ EDT, Tom Roddy On 9/13/16 at 12:11 PM (13 September 2016). "Belgian Paralympian opens up on euthanasia plans". Newsweek. Archived from the original on 18 October 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Morse, Ben (23 October 2019). "Belgian Paralympian Marieke Vervoort dies aged 40 through euthanasia". CNN. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
- ^ Eleanor Oldroyd (15 December 2016). "Marieke Vervoort: Paralympian who has signed euthanasia papers". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 15 December 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
- ^ a b "Rolstoelatleet Marieke Vervoort (40) is overleden na euthanasie | VRT NWS". www.vrt.be. Archived from the original on 22 October 2019. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
- ^ "Η Παραολυμπιονίκης που δεν άντεξε τον πόνο – Έκανε ευθανασία στα 40 της χρόνια". newsit.gr. 23 October 2019.
- ^ "Marieke Vervoort: Tribute to the Paralympian, who ended her life through euthanasia". BBC Sport. 23 October 2019. Archived from the original on 23 October 2019. Retrieved 23 October 2019 – via BBC News.
- ^ "Belgium's Out Paralympian Is Not Planning to Die Right After Rio Games". www.advocate.com. 7 September 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
- ^ Grobben, Annick (23 October 2019). "'Iedereen moet erop klinken dat ik zo'n geweldig leven heb gehad': Marieke Vervoort, een moegestreden positivo". De Morgen (in Dutch). Belgium. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
- ^ a b Renier, Hans (23 October 2019). "Marieke Vervoort wilde nooit opgeven: portret van 'The Beast from Diest'". HLN (in Dutch). Belgium. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
- ^ Walsh, Scott (6 September 2016). "Belgian Paralympian Marieke Vervoort considers euthanasia". The Advertiser. Adelaide. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
- ^ Neesen, Hedwig (19 November 2013). "Marieke Vervoort is Grootofficier in de kroonorde". Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 3 June 2017. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
- ^ "Laurens Devos named Belgian Paralympian of the Year". International Paralympic Committee. 19 December 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
- ^ Het Laatste Nieuws – Marieke Vervoort is Vlaamse Reus 2015 Archived 8 December 2015 at the Wayback Machine
External links
[edit]- Marieke Vervoort at Paralympic.org
- Marieke Vervoort at IPC.InfostradaSports.com (archived)