Belgian Paralympic silver medalist Marieke Vervoort has denied recent media reports that she was considering euthanasia immediately following her Paralympic appearance.
According to various media outlets in recent weeks, before the 2016 Games, the wheelchair sprinter had said she would finish her career in Rio and perhaps consider euthanasia after that.
The 37-year-old, who won a silver medal in the 400m 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 yesterday.
"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."
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Ms 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."
Ms Vervoort was named Paralympian of the year in 2012 and 2015.
Belgium is known to have the world's most liberal right-to-die laws. Since the law passed in 2002, the number of Belgians opting for euthanasia has risen each year.
