Reinder Nummerdor
A durable Dutch athlete who mastered two versions of his sport, competing in an incredible five consecutive Olympic Games.
Born 1976 (age 50)·Dutch volleyball player·Birthday: September 10·Generation X
Biography
Reinder Nummerdor's career is a testament to longevity and adaptation. He first made his mark as a powerful indoor volleyball player, a key member of the Dutch national team that competed at the Sydney and Athens Olympics. In his late twenties, as the indoor game's physical toll mounted, he made a daring switch to the beach. This transition required not just new skills but a different mentality, moving from a team of six to a partnership of two. He succeeded spectacularly, forming a formidable team with Richard Schuil and qualifying for three more Olympics on the sand. His five-Olympic journey, spanning twelve years and two disciplines, stands as a unique feat in volleyball history, showcasing an athlete's ability to evolve.
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.
Reinder was born in 1976, 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 Reinder Was Born
The biggest hits of 1976
#1 Movie
Rocky
Best Picture
Rocky
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Reinder's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1976Born
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1981Started school
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1989Became a teenager
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
1992Could drive
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
1994Could vote
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1997Turned 21
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
2006Turned 30
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 40
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 50
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Competed for the Netherlands in five consecutive Summer Olympic Games, from 2000 to 2016.
- Represented his country in both indoor volleyball (2000, 2004) and beach volleyball (2008, 2012, 2016).
- Won multiple medals on the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour with partner Richard Schuil.
Did You Know?
He and his wife, Dutch beach volleyball star Sanne Keizer, are one of the sport's most famous couples.
Nummerdor is known for his exceptionally powerful jump serve, a weapon he carried from indoor to the beach.
He continued competing at the international elite level until he was 40 years old.
“The ball is round, but the game is played in straight lines.”
