Maarten Heisen
A Dutch sprinter who found his greatest success in the relay, using his raw speed to help his national team compete on the world's biggest stages.
Born 1984 (age 42)·Dutch sprinter·Birthday: February 11·Millennials
Biography
Maarten Heisen's track career is a study in the power of the collective. While individual sprint glory can be elusive, Heisen mastered the art of the relay. The Dutchman, with his explosive starts and reliable legs, became a staple of the Netherlands' 4x100 meter and 4x400 meter teams throughout the late 2000s and 2010s. His moments in the spotlight came wearing the orange baton, helping to propel Dutch quartets into finals at European Championships and World Championships. Heisen's consistency and ability to perform under the unique pressure of relay exchange zones made him a valued teammate, contributing to a period of resurgence for Dutch sprinting where team success often outpaced individual fame.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Maarten was born in 1984, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Maarten Was Born
The biggest hits of 1984
#1 Movie
Beverly Hills Cop
Best Picture
Amadeus
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Maarten's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1984Born
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1989Started school
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1997Became a teenager
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
2000Could drive
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
2002Could vote
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Turned 21
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2014Turned 30
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 40
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 42 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Helped the Dutch men's 4x400 meter relay team win the silver medal at the 2012 European Athletics Championships in Helsinki.
- Was a regular member of Dutch relay teams that qualified for and competed in multiple World Athletics Championships.
- Ran on the Dutch 4x100 meter relay team that placed fifth at the 2016 European Athletics Championships in Amsterdam.
- Won national championship titles in individual sprint events in the Netherlands.
Did You Know?
He specialized in both the 100-meter and 400-meter distances, a rare combination that made him versatile for different relays.
He competed for the athletics club AV Altis in the Netherlands.
His personal best in the 400 meters is 46.36 seconds, set in 2011.
He often ran the crucial opening leg in the 4x400 meter relay, tasked with establishing a strong position.
“The baton pass is everything; it's where you win or lose the relay.”
