Raphael Bouju
{{Short description|Dutch sprinter (born 2002)}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name = Raphael Bouju
| birth_name =
| image = 2022-08-21 European Championships 2022 – Men's 4 x 100 Metres by Sandro Halank–030.jpg
| caption = Raphael Bouju in 2022
| nationality = Dutch
| sport = Athletics
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2002|5|15|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Amsterdam, Netherlands
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height =
| weight =
| pb = 60m: 6.56 (Belgrade 2025) NR
100m: 10.01 (Geneva 2023)
200m: 20.65 (Oordegem 2023)
| olympics =
| show-medals =
| medaltemplates =
{{Medal|Sport| Men's athletics }}
{{Medal|Country| the {{NED}} }}
{{Medal|Competition|European Games}}
{{Medal|Silver|2023 Kraków-Małopolska|100 m}}
{{Medal|Competition| European U23 Championships }}
{{Medal|S| 2023 Espoo | 100 m }}
{{Medal|S| 2023 Espoo | 200 m }}
{{Medal|Competition| European U18 Championships }}
{{Medal|G| 2018 Győr | 100 m }}
| 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.{{cite web|url=https://worldathletics.org/athletes/netherlands/raphael-bouju-14762868|title=R.Bouju|website=World Athletics|accessdate=4 June 2023}}
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.{{cite web|url=https://hardloopnetwerk.nl/raphael-bouju-over-zijn-nederlands-record-snelle-tijden-en-de-spelen/|website=Hardloopnetwerk.nl|accessdate=June 4, 2023|title=Raphael Bouju about his Dutch record, fast times and the Games|first=Tijn|last= Piest|date=February 5, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://publicatie.nocnsf.nl/teamnlatwork/topsport-en-onderwijs|website=Publicatie.nocnsf.nl|title=Top Sport and education|accessdate=4 June 2023}}
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.{{cite web|url=https://athleticsweekly.com/uncategorized/english-schools-class-of-2018-delivers-101494/|website=Athletics Weekly|accessdate=4 June 2023|title=English Schools class of 2018 delivers|first=Jason|last=Henderson |date=July 14, 2018}} 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.{{cite web|website=Bedford Independent|url=https://www.bedfordindependent.co.uk/bedford-athletes-strike-gold-in-national-championships/|accessdate=4 June 2023|title= Bedford athletes strike gold in National Championships|first=Tom|last=Carr|date=27 February 2020}}
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.{{cite web|url=https://www.atletiek.nl/artikelen/ek-limiet-voor-smidt-op-dag-1-van-de-asics-nk-atletiek/|website=Atletiek.nl|title= European Championship limit for Smidt on day 1 of the ASICS Dutch Athletics Championships|date=June 24, 2022|accessdate=4 June 2023}}
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.{{cite web|url=https://www.rtlnieuws.nl/sport/artikel/5328207/geen-medailles-op-ek-voor-sprintploegen-op-4x100-meter-estafette|website=rtlnieuws.nl|accessdate=4 June 2023|title= No medals at European Championships for sprint teams in 4x100 meter relay|date=August 21, 2022}}
In February 2023, Bouju took gold in the 60 meters at the Dutch Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn.{{cite web|url= https://nos.nl/artikel/2464352-sprinttitels-bij-nk-indoor-voor-bouju-en-seedo-ek-ticket-koster-op-1-500-meter|website=Nos.nl|accessdate=4 June 2023|title= Sprint titles at NK indoor for Bouju and Seedo, European Championship ticket Koster at 1,500 meters|date=18 February 2023}}
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.{{cite web|url=https://nos.nl/artikel/2466104-sprinter-bouju-naar-halve-finales-60-meter-verbaandert-en-foppen-in-finale-3-000-meter|website=nos.nl|accessdate=4 June 2023|date= March 4, 2023|title=
Sprinter Bouju to semi-finals 60 meters, Verbaandert and Foppen in final 3,000 meters}}
In June 2023 he ran a new 100m personal best, running 10.09 in Hengelo.{{cite web|url=https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/latest-news/blake-thomas-dodd-second-in-holland-meet/|website=Jamaica Observer|accessdate=4 June 2023|title= Blake, Thomas-Dodd second in Holland meet|first= Paul |last=Reid|date=4 June 2023}} On 2 July 2023 he finished fourth in the 100m at the Diamond League meeting in Stockholm.{{cite web|url= https://stockholm.diamondleague.com/en/lists-results-stockholm/#baseFrame%23__athDisciplineRoot%23DisciplineInit%23Stockholm2023_TIMING_ATHM100M----DIAMOND---FNL-000100--_json%23%23main-frame_content%23__athRun%23RunSubFrame%23Stockholm2023_TIMING_ATHM100M----DIAMOND---FNL-000100--_json|website=Diamond League|title=100m|date=2 July 2023|accessdate=2 July 2023}} 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.{{cite web|website=BBC Sport|date=14 July 2023|accessdate=14 July 2023|title=Jeremiah Azu adds Euro U23 gold to Welsh 100m record|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/66147263}}
He was selected for the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest. He reached the semi-finals of the 100m.{{cite web|url= https://www.watchathletics.com/page/4536/men-s-100m-results-world-athletics-championships-2023|website=Watch Athletics|accessdate=20 August 2023|title= Men's 100m Results: World Athletics Championships 2023|date=19 August 2023}}
In January 2025, he ran 6.56 for the 60m at the Belgrade Indoor Meeting in January 2025, breaking the Dutch national indoor record.{{cite web|url= https://www.european-athletics.com/news/twice-champion-visser-wins-as-boujj-and-molnar-set-new-national-records-in-belgrade|website=European Athletics|accessdate=1 February 2025|title= Two-time European indoor champion Visser opens season with victory in Belgrade|date=29 January 2025 }}
References
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Category:Sportspeople from Bedford
Category:British male sprinters
Category:English male sprinters
Category:Dutch Athletics Championships winners
Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2023 European Games
Category:European Games silver medalists for the Netherlands
Category:European Games medalists in athletics