Nicolás Massú
The 'Vampire' who delivered Chile's first Olympic gold medals in a stunning Athens double, becoming a national sporting immortal.
Born 1979 (age 47)·Chilean tennis player and coach·Birthday: October 10·Generation X
Biography
Nicolás Massú played tennis with a warrior's heart. Nicknamed 'El Vampiro' for his tenacious, never-say-die style, he carved out a successful career on the ATP tour, peaking inside the world's top ten. But his legacy was forged in a single, miraculous 48 hours in Athens in 2004. Unseeded and unexpected, he fought through a marathon singles final to claim Chile's first-ever Olympic gold medal. Hours later, exhausted, he returned to the court with partner Fernando González to win the doubles gold, completing an unprecedented double no man has matched since. Those medals transformed him from a respected player into a national symbol of grit and triumph. In his second act, he translated that competitive fire into coaching, most notably guiding Dominic Thiem to his maiden Grand Slam title at the US Open.
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.
Nicolás 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 Nicolás Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Nicolás'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
- Won the men's singles gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics, Chile's first-ever Olympic gold.
- Won the men's doubles gold medal at the same Games with Fernando González, completing an unprecedented double.
- Achieved a career-high singles ranking of World No. 9 in 2004.
- Coached Dominic Thiem to his first Grand Slam title at the 2020 US Open.
Did You Know?
His nickname 'El Vampiro' (The Vampire) was given for his pale complexion and his habit of playing late-night matches.
He carried the Chilean flag at the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
He is a passionate fan of the Chilean football club Colo-Colo.
After retiring, he briefly served as the captain of Chile's Davis Cup team.
“In Athens, I played for my life. I left everything on the court.”
