Stefan Mertens is a life-long pigeon fancier who races from the northwest part of Belgium and writes for several top European pigeon racing publications. Stefan contributes regular features on Belgian and European champions of the sport to SiegelPigeons.com.

In 2006, he won 1st National Champion KBDB Middle Distance Youngbirds. This championship could be won with the five best results for 1st and 2nd nominated youngbirds on races farther than Paris and not farther than 450 km, with only one result per weekend.