RAFI Solaiman has documented his journey from his devastating brain haemorrhage to a successful modelling and sporting career.
He thought his life was over at 12 but now he has become a household name. Here’s everything you need to know about Rafi.
Rafi Solaiman is a model and athlete from Worksop in Yorkshire who rose fame after suffering from a stroke when he was just 12 years old.
He was born on December 16, 1999.
The brain haemorrhage meant that he was left having to learn how to walk and speak again.
He has since documented his journey and kept his followers up to date on his Instagram @rafi_solaiman.
Rafi’s bio reads: “24 Disabled model represented by @zebedeetalent Framerunning para athlete 2 time silver medalist.”
Rafi discovered the sport Frame Running after his stroke.
He discovered the sport after he attended taster day before training in Sheffield.
He represented Great Britain at the Dubai 2019 World Para Athletics Championships in the Men’s 100m RR3 where he came second.
Rafi also came away with a silver medal at the European Para Athletics championships in Germany before winning gold in Poland.
Speaking about his love for the sport, he said: “Because of Frame Running I’ve made friends, gained fitness and it’s been a superb boost for my mental health.
“It has also helped me accept my disability and has given me opportunities I didn’t think possible.”
Rafi has said that he hoped he would get the chance to compete in the Paris 2024 Paralympics but the sport is not on the event line-up.
Rafi’s was rushed to hospital in 2013 with a medical emergency.
Doctors found that blood vessels had burst which meant he needed emergency surgery.
He then spent months in Sheffield Children’s Hospital which is where he learned to walk and talk again.
Rafi went on to appear in the CBBC documentary My Life: Changing the Face of Beauty.
Speaking about what he went through, Rafi said: “When I was 12 years old out of the blue I suffered a massive stroke (bleed on my brain), and for six months I was unable to move or communicate, because my brain had been damaged.
“My family were told that there was a high chance that I wouldn’t survive, so I feel very lucky that I’m here to tell you about it.
“I was away from home for about 10 months in total, having six months in hospital and four at a Rehabilitation centre.”
Rafi is currently signed to Zebedee modelling agency and often shares updates about his casting on social media.
In the CBBC documentary, Rafi was cast in a charity fashion show and also visited Manchester to meet with staff at fashion brand BoohooMAN.
Rafi went on to be involved in a test shoot with the brand.
Each sport is broken down into subcategories giving athletes the chance to compete on equal terms with those who have a similar impairment.
Here are the events:
