The Paralympic champion was found to have metastatic bone cancer around the turn of the century and since then she has been treated fifteen times. The sixteenth time there was no more treatment to save her. Yesterday she died at the age of 48.
“In everything she did, whether it was her family, the sport or doing good for others, she was always super strong,” says former wheelchair tennis player Vergeer, who witnessed the strength of Mentel during the Paralympics in 2018 as chef de mission. in Pyeongchang. “There was a lot of uncertainty then about how she would fare and she exceeded all expectations with gold twice.”
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Vergeer and Mentel always kept in touch. “When I heard that she was done, I knew it was waiting for the day it would be over. And even though you know that, I am still taken aback. Sad because it is so definitive.” She has made the most of it, she says. “And done everything in her power. I just admire it very much.”
Mentel’s death is coming in, says dance partner from Dancing with the stars Joost Findhammer. “We should be grateful that she enjoyed the past period so much. And I think she can be extremely proud of what she has left behind, her legacy.”
Enjoy little things
He hopes we will adopt her positivity. “Enjoying the little things, especially nowadays, is something we can learn a lot from.”
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Mentel was an insanely special woman, said Humberto Tan Beau. Mentel did not complain for a day, he said. “We can take over her love. She was warm. Worrying about how you feel while she dies. So the total ability to empathize with another and get support from that.”
Watch the conversation here:
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According to Erik Scherder, who worked for the mentelity foundation, Mentel constantly said that she was not going to say goodbye. “She did not want to phase out that.
There is a loving response on social media to the death of Bibian Mentel. Ireen Wüst thanks Mentel for all her inspiration. “Rest in peace dear Bibian Mentel. Thanks for all your inspiration, you are a wonderful person.”
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In the municipality of Wijdemeren, Mentel was an honorary citizen. “We are saddened to learn about the death of Bibian Mentel, multiple Paralympic snowboarding champion, honorary citizen of the municipality of Wijdemeren”, writes the municipality on Twitter. “Inspiration for all of us. We wish Edwin, her children and loved ones much strength.”
“She lived with cancer for 21 years, but was always positive, hopeful and got the most out of every day”, says KWF Kankerbesteging on Twitter. “We have enormous respect for how she lived and for her unbridled commitment to fighting cancer.”
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Prince Constantijn thanked Mentel for everything she shared. “” Everyone you touched with your optimism and perseverance has become a better person. Rest in peace. “
Prime Minister Mark Rutte is sad, he says via Twitter. “An icon of the Dutch Paralympic sport. With her positivity and immense perseverance an example for us all. I wish her relatives a lot of strength with this great and sad loss.”
Repentance
At sports umbrella NOC * NSF is dejection. “Much too soon, much too soon, what a woman!”, Says chairman Anneke van Zanen-Nieberg. “We will miss Bibian Mentel very much in the whole sport and will remember her for a long time. To the inspiration and positive energy she has given us all to make the most of it every day and to its great significance for athletes with disabilities. “
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“Although we knew that her farewell was coming, the pain is no less,” says technical director Maurits Hendriks. “She helped put Paralympic TeamNL on the map. It is a big loss for the Dutch sport and not just the top sport.”
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