Vervoort was a strong advocate of the right to choose euthanasiaShe suffered from an an incurable, degenerative spinal diseaseParalympian Marieke Vervoort said when the day arrived, she had signed the euthanasia papers and was prepared to end her life. That day came on Tuesday in her native
Belgium, her death confirmed in a statement from the city of Diest.
Vervoort, 40, won gold and silver medals in 2012 at the
London Paralympics in wheelchair racing, and two more medals three years ago in Rio de Janeiro.