Athletic resume
Middle distance runner · Class of 2029 · Brussels, Belgium. Physical profile, season targets, year-by-year progression, and athletic background.
Physical profile
Height
1.85m
Still growing
Weight
65kg
Starting strength training
Measured
Jul 2026
Self-reported
Weekly mileage
~35km
2026 average
Season 2026 targets
By end of season · October 2026800m
Sub 2:00
1500m
Sub 4:00
1000m
French U16 champion
1500m
Belgian U16 champion
Progression by season
Full results & charts →| Season | 800m | 1000m | 1500m |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | — | 2:49.14 | — |
| 2025 | 2:05.15 | — | 4:17.15 |
| 2026 (to date) | 2:00.83 | 2:32.77 | 4:03.84 |
Athletic background
Rafael competed as a swimmer at national level through 2026, reaching finals at the Belgian championships in the 100m freestyle200m freestyle400m freestyle.
Running has always been the priority, and swimming volume is being reduced to 1–2 sessions per week starting September 2026 to focus fully on middle distance. Worth noting for context: the 2026 running times above were produced on roughly 35km of running per week, alongside 4h30 of competitive swim training — a training load split across two sports rather than a full running program. Coaches should expect meaningful headroom as running volume increases.
Public visibility
Race footage posted on Instagram (account under a year old) regularly draws 30K+ views per reel, and the clip of the 1000m performance in Hannut on 24 June 2026 — the 2:32.77 season best — reached 135K views.
Full training log, meet-by-meet context, and video breakdowns available on request — contact.