Physiotherapist, High Performance Director
Raf is a Physiotherapist and High Performance Director of Front Runner Sports. He has 19 years of private practice physiotherapy experience across a range of sporting contexts and is one of Australia’s most trusted experts in rehabilitation, exercise prescription and load management for endurance athletes.
He has a rare 360 degree perspective on athletic performance systems. As an athlete, he has represented Australia at 4 Elite World Duathlon Championships; as a Physiotherapist has worked with various elite and national teams and as a coach has steered athletes to Australian senior teams.
He is increasingly involved in the high level strategic planning and athletic development systemisation of Front Runner Sports. Combining with a talented multi-disciplinary team he helps oversee the evolution of a community connected turn key athletic development model from first step to top step. Proven data analytics and modelling capabilities, combined with open and engaging communication helps drive planning and raise cultural expectations.
During his athletics career, Raf achieved a peak of #3 ITU Duathlon world ranking, achieving podium finishes at ITU Oceania, Asian and European Championships and 6th at the ITU World Championships. He is an 8* West Australian athletics champion in distances from 1500m- 12k Cross Country, a multiple state duathlon champion and medallist in the state triathlon championships.
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Qualifications & Experience:
- Bachelor of Science, Physiotherapy
- Athletics Australia Coach Facilitator
- Athletics Australia Level 2 Advanced Middle and Long Distance Coach
- Accredited TA Triathlon Coach
- Director- The Running Centre
- Event MC
- Ironman WA
- Busselton Half IM
- HBF Run for a Reason
- X Adventure
- BWA Dams Challenge
- Oceania Junior Tri Champs
- Sunsmart Triathlon Series
- Bunbury Geographe Gift
- Leonora Golden Gift
- Personal Coach to:
- 3 Senior Australian Representatives- Nic Harman, Matt Felton & Rochelle Rodgers
- World #1 Powerman Duathlete – Thomas Bruins
- 4 National Elite Champions
- 25 State Elite Champions
- 4 World AG Champions
- 61 sub 3hr Marathoners
- 4 sub 9hr IM competitors
- Previous Team Physiotherapist
- Perth Wildcats (Basketball)
- Melbourne Track Club (Athletics)
- State Schoolboys Football (AFL)
- Australian Junior Hockey Team (Hockey)
Clinical Interests:
- Athletics Data analytics and Data modelling
- Exercise Prescription for Rehabilitation and Performance optimisation
- Sports Injury Rehabilitation
- Motor Skill Development in Pre-adolescents and Adolescents
- Running Technique Assessment
- Overuse injuries in Endurance Sports
Management Capabilities:
- Strategic Planning
- Transparent Communication
- Athletic Development Systemisation
- Cultural Strategy
- Stakeholder Relations
