Thread by @nytimes

She was a world-class athlete. A gold medal-winning Paralympian. And she wanted to die.

We spent three years with Marieke Vervoort as she and her family wrestled with her decision to end her life. nyti.ms/2PoyTye

.@AndrewKeh and @LynseyAddario chronicled how Marieke Vervoort came to end her life as she suffered from a degenerative muscle disease.

What they saw was a top athlete taking control of her own destiny in an extraordinary fashion.

@andrewkeh @lynseyaddario Doctors could never fully explain the disease that stole the use of Marieke Vervoort's legs and caused agonizing pain.

But, she said, her decision to pursue euthanasia turned her life around. 11 years passed until she decided, this year, she was ready to die.

@andrewkeh @lynseyaddario Sports had long been Marieke Vervoort's outlet. But the option to pursue euthanasia, she said, let her thrive.

Within a few years, she achieved excellence in wheelchair sports. She won 4 medals, including a gold, at the Paralympic games and 3 golds at the world championships.

@andrewkeh @lynseyaddario At the 2016 Paralympics, Marieke Vervoort told the world about her health after false reports said that she planned to kill herself after the competition.

She denied that — but forcefully defended her choice and called on more countries to allow doctor-assisted suicide.

@andrewkeh @lynseyaddario Marieke Vervoort’s success opened doors: She traveled, checked items off her bucket list and won sponsors.

But her health soon deteriorated as the pain intensified. By mid-2017, she was openly addicted to morphine. Her friends became more like caretakers.

@andrewkeh @lynseyaddario As her health worsened, Marieke Vervoort struggled. "I pray to die," she said. "But It’s so hard to say, ‘This is the day I want to go.’"

But she said she wanted her story to be told — of her life and her death, on October 22. She was 40 years old. nyti.ms/2DVFQ4s