Raphael Bouju Explained

Raphael Bouju
Nationality:	Dutch
Sport:	Athletics
Event:	60m 100m
Birth Date:	15 May 2002
Birth Place:	Amsterdam, Netherlands
Pb:	60m: 6.59 (Istanbul 2023) 100m: 10.01 (Geneva 2023) 200m: 20.65 (Oordegem 2023)
Updated:	16 July 2023

Raphael Bouju (born 15 May 2002) is a Dutch track and field athlete who competes as a sprinter. A successful junior, he has won senior national Dutch titles over 60m and 100m.^[1]

Early life

Born in the Netherlands, Bouju moved to England with his mum and sister in 2006. He returned the Netherlands to train at the Papendal in 2018. He studied International Business at HAN University of Applied Sciences in Arnhem.^{[2] [3]}

Junior career

In 2018 Bouju won the English Schools inter boys’ 100m in a time of 10.66s. That summer he also won gold in the 100 metres at the 2018 European Athletics U18 Championships.^[4] In February 2020 he finished runner up in both the Dutch and British indoor 60m championships, his time of 6.70s setting a new Dutch U-20 record.^[5]

Senior career

In June 2022, Bouju won gold in the 100 meters at the Dutch championships in Apeldoorn, and at the same time recorded a new personal best of 10.27 seconds.^[6]

In August 2022 at the European Athletics Championships in Munich, he was part of the Netherlands' relay team that finished fourth overall in the 4×100 meters relay.^[7]

In February 2023, Bouju took gold in the 60 meters at the Dutch Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn.^[8] The following month he competed in the 60 meters at the European Indoor Athletics Championships held in Istanbul. He ran a new personal best time of 6.59 seconds to reach the semi-finals.^[9]

In June 2023 he ran a new 100m personal best, running 10.09 in Hengelo.^[10] On 2 July 2023 he finished fourth in the 100m at the Diamond League meeting in Stockholm.^[11] On 14 July 2023, he won a silver medal at the 2023 European Athletics U23 Championships in the 100 metres behind Jeremiah Azu in Espoo, Finland.^[12]

He was selected for the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest. He reached the semi-finals of the 100m.^[13]

Notes and References

1. Web site: R.Bouju. World Athletics. 4 June 2023.
2. Web site: Raphael Bouju about his Dutch record, fast times and the Games. Hardloopnetwerk.nl. June 4, 2023. Tijn. Piest. February 5, 2021.
3. Web site: Top Sport and education. Publicatie.nocnsf.nl. 4 June 2023.
4. Web site: English Schools class of 2018 delivers. Athletics Weekly. 4 June 2023. Jason. Henderson . July 14, 2018.
5. Web site: Bedford Independent. Bedford athletes strike gold in National Championships. 4 June 2023. Tom. Carr. 27 February 2020.
6. Web site: European Championship limit for Smidt on day 1 of the ASICS Dutch Athletics Championships. Atletiek.nl. June 24, 2022. 4 June 2023.
7. Web site: No medals at European Championships for sprint teams in 4x100 meter relay. rtlnieuws.nl. 4 June 2023. August 21, 2022.
8. Web site: Sprint titles at NK indoor for Bouju and Seedo, European Championship ticket Koster at 1,500 meters. Nos.nl. 4 June 2023. 18 February 2023.
9. Web site: Sprinter Bouju to semi-finals 60 meters, Verbaandert and Foppen in final 3,000 meters. nos.nl. 4 June 2023. March 4, 2023.
10. Web site: Blake, Thomas-Dodd second in Holland meet. Jamaica Observer. 4 June 2023. Paul . Reid. 4 June 2023.
11. Web site: 100m. Diamond League. 2 July 2023. 2 July 2023.
12. Web site: BBC Sport. 14 July 2023. 14 July 2023. Jeremiah Azu adds Euro U23 gold to Welsh 100m record.
13. Web site: Men's 100m Results: World Athletics Championships 2023. Watch Athletics. 20 August 2023. 19 August 2023.