TEDxRotterdam - Maarten van der Weijden - On surviving cancer and becoming Olympic champion

Maarten van der Weijden is an Olympic swimming champion and has won gold for the 10 kilometers open water event at the Olympics in Beijing 2008. He also survived cancer and was forced to take two years out to survive the disease. At one stage he was not expected to survive. Contrary to Lance Armstrong, the cancer surviving Tour de France biker, Van der Weijden doesn't agree it is only positive thinking and lot's of sports that has saved him. 'I even think it's dangerous because it implies that if you are not a positive thinker all the time you lose.' says Van der Weijden.

On TEDxRotterdam Maarten van der Weijden shared his truely amazing and inspiring story.

About TEDx, x = independently organized event

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized. (Subject to certain rules and regulations.)

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