Early Drive

Born on 19 December 1973, Marc Herremans grew up outdoors, chasing movement rather than schoolbooks. At 16 he watched Rocky, a moment that sparked the dream of becoming a world boxing champion. He trained obsessively in the attic, building discipline long before knowing where it would lead. At 18 he joined the army as a Para Commando, enjoying the extreme training but realizing boxing itself was not his future. He later worked as a joiner and volunteered as a firefighter, always staying driven by physical challenge and mental resilience.

Finding a Mission

Everything changed in 2001 when Marc watched a National Geographic documentary on the IRONMAN triathlon in Hawaii. The brutal combination of a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride through lava fields, and a marathon in extreme heat sparked a clear purpose. Marc began training and soon became Belgian champion twice, placing 8th in a world championship. At 27 he qualified for the IRONMAN World Championship in Hawaii, finishing 6th as the youngest professional in the field. For him, 2001 was a tryout, 2002 was meant to be the year he claimed the title.

The Turning Point

During a training camp on Lanzarote in 2002, Marc crashed heavily during a descent. Three hospitals in three countries gave the same diagnosis: paraplegia, paralysis from the chest down. The athlete predicted to become world champion suddenly faced life in a wheelchair. For a single day he felt everything collapse, until his nephew hugged him and told him he was glad he was back. Marc realized he had been given a second chance. He made the decision to fight again, revisiting the bucket list he had written before the accident: win the IRONMAN of Hawaii, ride the Crocodile Trophy, and become a father.

Rising to the Impossible

With help from family and friends, Marc trained harder than ever. He founded To Walk Again, earned a knighthood from the king for his dedication, and received Belgium’s sports personality award. After several podium finishes he achieved the impossible: in 2006 he became World Champion IRONMAN, despite complete paralysis from the chest down. His foundation grew into a respected organization supporting people in sports, health, and long-term rehab ambitions. In 2007 he became the first wheelchair athlete to finish the brutal 1400 km Crocodile Trophy in Australia. One year later he launched a coaching career spanning cycling, triathlon, mountain biking, motocross, BMX and more, eventually co-founding the 185 Coaching Centre. In 2013 he fulfilled the most personal goal on his list with the birth of his daughter Anne-Lou.

Global Impact and New Chapters

Marc’s influence continued to expand. In 2016 he became race director of the global Wings for Life World Run alongside Colin Jackson, raising funds for spinal cord research. He delivered keynotes in more than 30 countries, including a special lecture for the Belgian Royal Family in 2019. That same year he launched Athletes for Hope, guiding young talents while raising funds for walking robots for children with spinal cord injuries or muscle diseases. As a coach he earned his first world championship title in 2020. During the Covid period he created the Rehab Meadow, a nature-based therapeutic space with animals for disabled children and families. In 2022 he launched X-OATS, a healthy and climate-neutral overnight oats brand. In 2023 he co-published the poetic children’s book Hout, inspired by his journey and the Athletes for Hope project. Wings for Life continued breaking records in 2024 and 2025, raising millions for research. Marc joined victims of terrorism for the “Together Stronger” TDF 2024 Monaco-Nice experience, published the book Toontje, expanded X-OATS with new flavors, and prepared the next big Athletes for Hope chapter for 2025. His 2024 appearance on Touché offered deep reflections on resilience and purpose. Today Marc’s story continues to motivate audiences worldwide to value life, embrace challenges, and transform adversity into direction.