Raphaelle is a second year Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice student at UWA, and an elite artistic swimmer who will be heading to the Paris 2024 Olympics.
We spoke with Raphaelle about her journey to get to where she is today, and how she balances sport and study.
Why artistic swimming?
"I have been practicing artistic swimming since I was six years old. I honestly feel like I was born for this. I have been a student athlete since I was in grade five of elementary school. I don’t think I even remember what it is like to be a full-time student. I now dedicate 38 hours per week to training. A normal training day usually includes a gym session and two water sessions.”
“I grew up in Montreal, Canada. I moved to Australia because my dad is from Perth and has been telling me wonderful things about Perth since I was a kid. Last year, I decided that it was time for a new adventure. So, I got my Aussie passport and decided to move to Perth to follow my lifelong dream of competing at the Olympics in artistic swimming. All I knew was that I would be training with the Australian national team, but I did not know where I was going to live or what would happen next.”
“Since then, I have competed at the world aquatics championship and two world cups. My team and I are now off to Budapest for the last world cup before the Olympics. After this competition, we will head off to Barcelona for a training camp and finally fly to Paris.”
What was it like finding out you had a place for the Paris 2024 Olympics?
How do you balance sport and study?
“Keeping a balance between my sport and studies is particularly important to me. Of course, artistic swimming is my dream, and it is what I love to do but it would be foolish of me to say that it will be there forever. Someday, I will have to retire, and I need something else to motivate me. For now, a second dream for me would be to become a criminal lawyer. This goal helps me stay focused and disciplined in school. I have an urge to achieve my academic goals. Why have only one goal when you can have a lot more.”
“For me, practicing my sport while studying has made me so much more disciplined, amongst other things. I rapidly acquired the skill of organisation. Since I was in primary school, I had less time than others to get my studies done but I still pushed myself to get the best academic results.”
“Artistic swimming really clears my mind, and it helps me so much mentally to know that I am not sitting in a class for hours. I learned to get my studies done quickly to have more time to enjoy my rest. I try to keep my competitions separate from university when I can. I try to get most of my assignments done beforehand, so I do not need to worry about it in competitions.”
What do you enjoy the most about UWA?
“I really enjoyed the flexibility UWA has offered me this year. It is so difficult being a student athlete, but UWA has made it so much easier for me. I was able to get special consideration for my tutorials and exams whenever I needed it.”
What’s your favourite memory of UWA so far?
“I think my most memorable moment at UWA would be my first visit. I had just landed in Perth with my dad, and we decided to go for a stroll and see what campus looks like. I remember being mesmerised by how beautiful the facilities were. I was in complete awe of all the libraries and gardens accessible for students. I looked at my dad and told him, we made the right choice.”
What advice would you give students who want to pursue a sport while studying?
“I would recommend any student to pursue their athletic dreams. My advice would be to not let anyone tell you that you cannot do it. Of course, it will be difficult, but it is possible. Try to lean on the people who will help and support you.”
