Maarten van der Weijden

Maarten grew up as a talented swimmer and between 1998 and 2000 became multiple Dutch champion in long-distance swimming. After his return from illness, he won international gold in the 25 km in Seville and the 10 km at the Olympic Games. He was later named Sportsman of the Year 2008 and inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame. His career shows how mental and physical strength are closely connected, and how resilience can sometimes be stronger than talent alone. Maarten van der Weijden as a speaker Maarten is a highly sought-after speaker on themes such as mental resilience, leadership, and teamwork. He takes the audience through his experiences with illness, recovery, and top-level sports, and provides insight into how ambition can be turned into impact. He shares how he sometimes swam 200 km to raise millions for cancer research through his Foundation, and inspires organizations to keep going, even when it seems impossible. His style is open, humorous, and personal, with a clear call: “Dare to fail, dare to start again.” Book Maarten van der Weijden at Sprekershuys Maarten can be booked as a speaker for events on perseverance, health, leadership, collaboration, and social impact. He is available for health and care conferences, sports events, corporate inspiration sessions, and fundraising meetings. Under the heading “Sessions” you will find more information about his lecture.