Rafael Miroslaw
Rafael Miroslaw
QUICK STATS
- Hometown: Hamburg, Germany
- Birthdate: March 25, 2001
- College: Indiana University
- Coaches: John Long, Ray Looze, Cory Chitwood
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
- 2024 Paris Olympian
- 2024 World Championship Finalist
- NCAA Finalist
- Two-time Big Ten team champion
- Seven-time Big Ten individual champion
- 11-time NCAA All American
EXPERIENCE
Olympian Rafael Miroslaw is a freestyle sprint and mid-distance swimmer who represented Germany at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Rafael’s clinics are technique focused, as he believes technique is essential for growth in the sport, saying “even a couple hundredths of a second of improvement can make a difference in how you perform in an event.”
Rafael strives for precision in his stroke and has developed a well-trained eye for swimming technique as well as the needs of athletes at different ages and stages of their development. He says, “I care a lot about swimming and want to contribute to a more competitive environment, one where individuals can improve while still having fun and enjoying the beauty of the sport.”
Prior to the Paris Olympics, he swam at Indiana University where he helped the Hoosiers win three straight Big Ten Championships. Rafael is an 18-time All-American and 10-time Big Ten Champion. He began instructing young swimmers in his home country of Germany to give back to the community, and that’s where he developed a passion for teaching.
Rafael admits that his drive for perfection and does so more from failure than from success. “I hate losing races and know that I have to work hard if I don’t want to experience that feeling of frustration if I don’t swim well.” However, he encourages Fitter and Faster clinic participants to have a more balanced view of swimming and to trust the process. “There will be times where you start doubting yourself and are not sure about your training and that’s okay. Don’t let it take control over you because it will all work out in the end. Dream big and be confident.”
