Marieke Vervoort

{{Infobox sportsperson

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| name = Marieke Vervoort

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| image = Mariekevervoort2012.jpg

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| caption = Vervoort during the Run to walk again event in Tongerlo, September 2012

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| nickname = Wielemie{{cite news |last1=Sage |first1=Adam |title=Paralympian Marieke Vervoort ends her life through euthanasia |url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/europe/article/paralympian-marieke-vervoort-ends-her-life-through-euthanasia-ds75q6269 |access-date=24 October 2019 |work=The Times |date=23 October 2019 |location=London, England}}

| national_team = Belgium

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| birth_date = {{birth date|1979|5|10|df=y}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/paralympics/2019/1023/1085087-paralympian-marieke-vervoort-dies-through-euthanasia/|title=Paralympian Marieke Vervoort dies through euthanasia|date=23 October 2019|via=www.rte.ie}}

| birth_place = Diest, Belgium{{cite web |title=Diest – mijn stad. EXPO 100% Wielemie |url=https://sportimonium.be/en/system/files/pers/bijlagen/opening_expo_100_wielemie_english.pdf |website=Sportimonium |access-date=24 October 2019 |date=2018 |archive-date=23 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191023185436/https://sportimonium.be/en/system/files/pers/bijlagen/opening_expo_100_wielemie_english.pdf |url-status=dead }}

| death_date = {{death date and age|2019|10|22|1979|05|10|df=y}}

| death_place = Diest, Belgium{{cite web |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-23/marieke-vervoort-dies-by-euthanasia-paralympian/11633210 |title=Paralympian Marieke Vervoort dies by voluntary euthanasia, aged 40 |date=October 23, 2019 |website=ABC News |access-date=March 17, 2021}}

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| country = Belgium

| sport = Wheelchair racing

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| disability_class = T52

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| event = T52 100m, 200m, 400m, 1,500m, 5,000m

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{{MedalCountry|{{flagu|Belgium}}}}

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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

Vervoort began her career in sports playing wheelchair basketball,{{cite news |title=Marieke Vervoort, athlète paralympique souffrant d'une maladie incurable, est morte par euthanasie |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/disparitions/article/2019/10/23/l-athlete-paralympique-belge-marieke-vervoort-est-morte_6016514_3382.html |access-date=24 October 2019 |work=Le Monde |agency=Le Monde / AFP |date=23 October 2019 |location=Paris, France |language=fr}} then took up swimming, and competed in triathlons.{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/marieke-vervoort-death-euthanasia-paralympic-gold-belgium-diest-a9167301.html|title=Paralympic gold medallist Marieke Vervoort ends life through euthanasia|date=23 October 2019|website=The Independent |location=London, England|access-date=23 October 2019}} She was paratriathlon world champion in 2006 and 2007, and in 2007, competed in the Ironman Triathlon in Hawaii. She retired from triathlons when her condition became worse. Instead, she started blokarting and then wheelchair racing.

{{external media

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| video1 = [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5oYO9-IKuQ Vervoort's gold medal run in the T52 100m event in London], YouTube video

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In the 2012 London Paralympic Games, she won the gold medal in the T52 100m wheelchair race,{{Cite web|url=http://sporza.be/cm/sporza/atletiek/1.2477019|title=Marieke Vervoort is wereldkampioene op de 200 meter|access-date=23 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160914093644/http://sporza.be/cm/sporza/atletiek/1.2477019|archive-date=14 September 2016|url-status=live |language=nl |website=Sporza |location=Belgium}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.paralympic.be/nl|title=Paralympic Team Belgium|website=Paralympic Team Belgium|access-date=23 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190706174053/https://www.paralympic.be/nl|archive-date=6 July 2019|url-status=live}} Retrieved 23 October 2019 and the silver medal in the T52 200m wheelchair race.

In 2013, she set a new European record of 33.65 in the T52 200m race at Oordegem, Belgium.{{cite news |last1=Van Glabeke |first1=Simon |title=Sara Aerts en Marieke Vervoort presteren sterk in Oordegem |url=http://www.atni.be/2013/07/07/sara-aerts-en-marieke-vervoort-presteren-sterk-in-oordegem-racevideos/ |access-date=24 October 2019 |work=Atletiek Nieuws |date=7 July 2013 |language=nl}}{{cite news |title=Europees record voor Wielemie |url=https://www.standaard.be/cnt/dmf20130707_00649757 |access-date=24 October 2019 |work=De Standaard |date=10 July 2013 |location=Belgium |language=nl}}{{cite web |title=2016 IPC Athletics European Championships, Grosseto |url=https://www.paralympic.org/static/info/grosseto-2016/resIPC/pdf/GR2016/AT/GR2016_AT_C73A_ATW250101.pdf |website=International Paralympic Committee |access-date=24 October 2019}} She also set world records in the T52 400m at Kortrijk, Belgium,{{cite web |title=World Para Athletics World Records Women's 400 m |url=https://db.ipc-services.org/sdms/web/record/at/pdf/type/WR/category/out/gender/W/evt/004 |website=World Para Athletics |publisher=International Paralympic Committee |access-date=24 October 2019}} and the T52 800m at Oordegem in 2013.{{cite web |title=World Para Athletics World Records Women's 800 m |url=https://db.ipc-services.org/sdms/web/record/at/pdf/type/WR/category/out/gender/W/evt/008 |website=World Para Athletics |publisher=International Paralympic Committee |access-date=24 October 2019}}

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.{{cite web |title=Lyon 2013 - Day five morning session review |url=https://www.paralympic.org/news/lyon-2013-day-five-morning-session-review |website=IPC Athletics World Championships |access-date=24 October 2019 |date=24 July 2013}} She injured her shoulder, requiring surgery and ten months of rehabilitation.{{cite news |title=Rolstoelatlete Marieke Vervoort wint meteen bij comeback |url=https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20140517_01109312 |access-date=24 October 2019 |work=Nieuwsblad |date=17 May 2014 |location=Belgium |language=nl}} Her next competition was in 2014, at the ParAthletics IPC Athletics Grand Prix held at Nottwil, Switzerland, where she won the 200m, as well as the 1,500m and 5,000m, in both of which she set new world records.{{cite web |title=Marieke Vervoort awarded the National Trophy Victor Boin 2014 |url=https://www.paralympic.org/news/marieke-vervoort-awarded-national-trophy-victor-boin-2014 |website=World Para Athletics |access-date=24 October 2019 |date=22 January 2015}}{{cite web |title=World Para Athletics World Records Women's 1500 m |url=https://db.ipc-services.org/sdms/web/record/at/pdf/type/WR/category/out/gender/W/evt/015 |website=World Para Athletics |publisher=International Paralympic Committee |access-date=24 October 2019}}{{cite web |title=World Para Athletics World Records Women's 5000 m |url=https://db.ipc-services.org/sdms/web/record/at/pdf/type/WR/category/out/gender/W/evt/050 |website=World Para Athletics |publisher=International Paralympic Committee |access-date=24 October 2019}} 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.{{cite news |title=Wielemie zwaar verbrand in keuken |url=https://www.hln.be/in-de-buurt/diest/wielemie-zwaar-verbrand-in-keuken~a5a38805/ |access-date=29 October 2019 |work=Het Laatste Nieuws |date=1 September 2014 |location=Belgium |language=nl}}

At the 2015 IPC Athletics World Championships in Doha, she won gold medals in the T52 100m, 200m and 400m races, and became world champion. She covered 200 meters in 35.91,{{cite news |title=Marieke Vervoort pakt ook goud op 100 meter tijdens WK atletiek voor paralympiërs |url=https://www.standaard.be/cnt/dmf20151026_01938953 |access-date=24 October 2019 |work=De Standaard |date=26 October 2015 |location=Belgium |language=nl}} which was two seconds slower than her European record, prior to her accident.

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.[https://www.bbc.com/sport/disability-sport/50145393 Marieke Vervoort: Paralympian ends life through euthanasia at age of 40] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191023085019/https://www.bbc.com/sport/disability-sport/50145393 |date=23 October 2019}}, BBC Sport, 22 October 2019.

Personal life

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, which caused severe pain, paralysis in her legs, and made it very difficult for her to sleep.{{cite news |title=Paralympian Marieke Vervoort dies by voluntary euthanasia |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-23/marieke-vervoort-dies-by-euthanasia-paralympian/11633210 |access-date=23 October 2019 |work=ABC News |agency=AFP/AP |date=23 October 2019 |location=Australia}}{{cite news |title=Paralympic gold medalist Marieke Vervoort ends her life in Belgium |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/oct/23/paralympic-gold-medalist-marieke-vervoort-ends-her-life-in-belgium |access-date=23 October 2019 |work=The Guardian |agency=Associated Press |date=23 October 2019}} 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".[http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/695525/Paralympics-champion-Marieke-Vervoort-euthanasia-Rio-last-competition Paralympics champion considers euthanasia as she announces Rio will be last competition] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160828174329/http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/695525/Paralympics-champion-Marieke-Vervoort-euthanasia-Rio-last-competition |date=28 August 2016}}, Katie Mansfield, 1 August 2016, Express, Retrieved 20 August 2016 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."{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/sport-rio-2016-paralympics-euthanasia-497932|title=Belgian Paralympian opens up on euthanasia plans|first=Tom Roddy On 9/13/16 at 12:11 PM|last=EDT|date=13 September 2016|website=Newsweek|access-date=23 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181018173650/https://www.newsweek.com/sport-rio-2016-paralympics-euthanasia-497932|archive-date=18 October 2018|url-status=live}} She signed her euthanasia papers in 2008.{{cite web |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2019/10/23/sport/marieke-vervoort-paralympian-dies-euthanasia-belgium-spt-intl/index.html |last=Morse |first=Ben |title=Belgian Paralympian Marieke Vervoort dies aged 40 through euthanasia |date=October 23, 2019 |website=CNN |access-date=March 17, 2021}} Vervoort also had epilepsy, and lived with her assistance dog, Zenn,{{cite news|author=Eleanor Oldroyd|title=Marieke Vervoort: Paralympian who has signed euthanasia papers|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/disability-sport/38306504|access-date=15 December 2016|publisher=BBC Sport|date=15 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161215071232/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/disability-sport/38306504|archive-date=15 December 2016|url-status=live}} who was able to alert her to an upcoming seizure an hour before it occurred.

She died by euthanasia on 22 October 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2019/10/22/rolstoelatlete-marieke-vervoort-40-is-overleden.app/|title=Rolstoelatleet Marieke Vervoort (40) is overleden na euthanasie | VRT NWS|website=www.vrt.be|access-date=23 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191022193057/https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2019/10/22/rolstoelatlete-marieke-vervoort-40-is-overleden.app/|archive-date=22 October 2019|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsit.gr/athlitika/i-paraolympionikis-pou-den-antekse-ton-pono-ekane-eythanasia-sta-40-tis-xronia/2899646/|title=Η Παραολυμπιονίκης που δεν άντεξε τον πόνο – Έκανε ευθανασία στα 40 της χρόνια|date=23 October 2019|website=newsit.gr}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/disability-sport/50150513|title=Marieke Vervoort: Tribute to the Paralympian, who ended her life through euthanasia|publisher=BBC Sport |date=23 October 2019|via=BBC News|access-date=23 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191023100601/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/disability-sport/50150513|archive-date=23 October 2019|url-status=live}} Her decision was supported by other Paralympians, such as Briton Ollie Hynd.

Vervoort was lesbian.{{Cite web |date=2016-09-07 |title=Belgium's Out Paralympian Is Not Planning to Die Right After Rio Games |url=http://www.advocate.com/sports/2016/9/07/belgiums-out-paralympian-not-planning-die-right-after-rio-games |access-date=2022-04-14 |website=www.advocate.com }}

Writing

Vervoort was the author of two books, Wielemie. Sporten voor het leven ("Wielemie. Sports for life") (Houtekiet, 2012),{{cite news |last1=Grobben |first1=Annick |title='Iedereen moet erop klinken dat ik zo'n geweldig leven heb gehad': Marieke Vervoort, een moegestreden positivo |url=https://www.demorgen.be/nieuws/iedereen-moet-erop-klinken-dat-ik-zo-n-geweldig-leven-heb-gehad-marieke-vervoort-een-moegestreden-positivo~b92b484f/?referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F |access-date=24 October 2019 |work=De Morgen |date=23 October 2019 |location=Belgium |language=nl}} 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.{{cite news |last1=Renier |first1=Hans |title=Marieke Vervoort wilde nooit opgeven: portret van 'The Beast from Diest' |url=https://www.hln.be/binnenland/marieke-vervoort-wilde-nooit-opgeven-portret-van-the-beast-from-diest~a97a1723/?referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F |access-date=March 17, 2021 |work=HLN |date=23 October 2019 |location=Belgium |language=Dutch}}

Honors and recognition

2012 – Belgian Paralympian of the Year{{cite news |last1=Walsh |first1=Scott |title=Belgian Paralympian Marieke Vervoort considers euthanasia |url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/olympics/belgian-paralympian-marieke-vervoort-considers-euthanasia/news-story/499882e26fc373f1ca67d4b6c87864c7 |access-date=24 October 2019 |work=The Advertiser |date=6 September 2016 |location=Adelaide}}
2013 – Grand Officer of the Order of the Crown (Belgium){{cite news |last1=Hope |first1=Alan |title=Face of Flanders: Marieke Vervoort |url=http://www.flanderstoday.eu/living/face-flanders-marieke-vervoort |access-date=24 October 2019 |work=Flanders Today |date=26 November 2013 |location=Belgium}}{{Cite news |last=Neesen |first=Hedwig |url=https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/blhne_20131119_001|title=Marieke Vervoort is Grootofficier in de kroonorde|work=Het Nieuwsblad |date=19 November 2013|access-date=23 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170603164230/http://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/blhne_20131119_001|archive-date=3 June 2017|url-status=live |language=nl}}
2014 – {{ill|National Trophy Victor Boin|nl|Nationale Trofee Victor Boin}}
2015 – Belgian Paralympian of the Year{{cite web |title=Laurens Devos named Belgian Paralympian of the Year |url=https://www.paralympic.org/news/laurens-devos-named-belgian-paralympian-year |website=International Paralympic Committee |access-date=24 October 2019 |date=19 December 2016}}
2015 – Vlaamse ReusHet Laatste Nieuws – [http://www.hln.be/hln/nl/3806/Sport/video/detail/2546779/Marieke-Vervoort-is-Vlaamse-Reus-2015.dhtml Marieke Vervoort is Vlaamse Reus 2015] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208110918/http://www.hln.be/hln/nl/3806/Sport/video/detail/2546779/Marieke-Vervoort-is-Vlaamse-Reus-2015.dhtml |date=8 December 2015 }}
2016 – {{ill|Decoration of the Flemish Community|nl|Ereteken van de Vlaamse Gemeenschap}} from Prime Minister Geert Bourgeois