Dutch Olympic swimmer Inge Dekker has been diagnosed with cervical cancer, per a statement posted to the Royal Dutch Swimming Federation’s website today.
Dekker has been an integral member of the Dutch squad’s 4 x 100m freestyle relay at the past 3 Olympic Games, winning a bronze in Athens, gold in Beijing and silver in London.
The 30-year-old Dekker describes herself as ‘shocked by the diagnosis’. Dekker says, ““for three years my thoughts have been focused on the Olympic Games in Rio and then I hear this.” But she added, “I have certainly not yet ruled out the Games in Rio.”
“Suddenly, life is quiet and you can see how it’s all relative. Meanwhile, it took a few days to get used to the new and I look with confidence to the figure,” Dekker stated.
You can read the statement in its entirety here.
Shocking, to say the least, especially at such a young age. Hope she can beat the cancer!