Beyond the Finish Line: Antonio & Rafi in Cascais
The day wakes gently over the Atlantic in Cascais. The sky begins to glow with soft pink tones before sunrise, while the silence of the sea seems to hold every restless thought. Two twin brothers check their gear with calm hands, deep breaths, and a quiet patience earned through years of discipline.
Antonio and Rafi, both 42, fathers, and holding demanding positions at work, have devoted over a decade to triathlon. They walk the line between effort and rest, between family routines and personal athletic demands. Every training session is not a sacrifice, but a conscious act of balance: training is not something added to their lives, it is a substantial part of them.
“Ironman isn’t trained for in spare hours; it’s trained within the life you already have… trying to make training part of your life, not your life part of training.”
It all began in 2011, with a team triathlon at Casa de Campo in Madrid. Rafi took on the cycling leg, and together they discovered that triathlon was not just about strong legs and speed, but mental endurance, organization, and willpower. When Antonio joined soon after, the sport became a silent compass guiding them every day.
In 2014, they faced their first Ironman: modest times at first — swimming just over an hour, cycling six hours, and enduring a marathon close to four hours. That race was a wake-up call: painful, yet revealing. It taught them that the challenge was not only crossing the finish line, but sustaining themselves throughout the journey.
Eleven years later, at the 2024 Ironman in Cascais, they crossed together with a total time of 9 hours, 40 minutes, and 57 seconds.
- Rafi finished with splits of 1:03:41 swimming · 5:06:13 cycling · 3:19:50 running.
- Antonio crossed with 1:02:10 · 5:07:26 · 3:19:18.
Numbers matter, yes, they are proof of progress, daily training, and continuous improvement. But what matters most is unseen. They reflect silent work, early mornings, intense seasons, and necessary pauses to not lose sight of what truly matters.
During the years, they share the path: doubts, trainings, frustrations, moments when energy fades, or legs want to quit. They push, listen, and support one another. Running alongside your brother is finding a true mirror: someone who knows your limits, fears, and aspirations.
“Sometimes things don’t go as you want or expect, but that doesn’t mean it’s wrong… what matters is to keep going. There are good days, bad days, days when everything adds up… and days when nothing seems to work. But everything moves you closer to your goal.”
And when they cross the finish line, what truly matters is there: families waiting, embraces, glances. Children observing their parents with pride, not for speed, but for coherence. Because what they hope to leave is a legacy: that you can dream big without sacrificing the everyday; that you can live fully without losing calm.
That day, they wore the tri-suit designed especially for them by LABRISA: a garment made to support all three disciplines with comfort, breathable materials, and adaptability. It was more than clothing, it was a second skin accompanying every stroke, every pedal, every stride.
Because, in the end, Ironman as in life, is not just about crossing lines or accumulating kilometers. It is about moving forward with purpose, authenticity, and balance. About finding beauty in effort and serenity in constant motion.
