Cédric Van Branteghem
A Belgian 400-meter specialist who became a national record holder and a resilient fixture on the European athletics circuit.
Born 1979 (age 47)·Belgian sprinter·Birthday: March 13·Generation X
Biography
Cédric Van Branteghem emerged from Belgium as a powerful one-lap runner in the late 1990s. His career was defined by consistency and national pride, often carrying the Belgian flag in major championships. He became a staple at European Championships and World Championships, known for his strong finishes and role in relay teams. Van Branteghem's name is etched in Belgian athletics history as a former national record holder in the 400 meters, a record that stood for years. While an Olympic medal eluded him, his longevity and dedication made him a respected figure in European track and field, retiring as one of Belgium's most accomplished sprinters.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Cédric was born in 1979, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Cédric Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Cédric's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Turned 21
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2009Turned 30
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 40
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Former Belgian record holder in the 400 meters.
- Competed in the 400m at three consecutive Olympic Games (2000, 2004, 2008).
- Won a silver medal in the 4x400m relay at the 2006 European Athletics Championships.
- Earned multiple national championship titles in Belgium.
Did You Know?
His full name includes Marie Carlos Thérèse.
He was a training partner and close friend of fellow Belgian sprinter Kim Gevaert.
He once finished fourth in the 400m at the 2002 European Championships, just outside the medals.
“I ran for Belgium, to represent my country on the biggest stage possible.”
