About Nafi
Born to a Belgian mother and Senegalese father, Nafi is the pentathlon world record holder and the current triple Olympic, double World and triple European heptathlon champion. She is one of only four heptathletes to break the magic 7,000-point barrier and the only heptathlete in history to win three consecutive Olympic gold medals. She was voted World Athletics World Female Athlete of the Year in 2017 and a finalist for the 2024 Women’s Field Athlete of the Year Award. Off the field, Nafi acts as a UNICEF goodwill ambassador and is one of the founding members of the Nike Athlete Think Tank. Her list of achievements and record breaking marks makes her one of the most decorated athletes in athletics history.
A modern multi-eventer, Nafi first immersed on the international scene when scoring a world indoor best in the junior pentathlon in 2013. Later that year she won gold at the European junior championships, a feat that announced the start of a prodigious career in which Nafi continues to re-write combined events history. She wasted little time by becoming the youngest Olympic heptathlon gold medalist in history and in the years to follow she distinguished herself as a world class performer by adding two World gold medals and one silver to her name, as well as three European indoor and three outdoor gold medals. She has managed to break a mythical heptathlon barrier by scoring a massive 7013 points and wrote history at the Paris Olympic Games by winning a third consecutive heptathlon gold medal. In 2023 Nafi raised the world indoor pentathlon record to a stunning 5055 points and showed no intention of slowing down her already brilliant career.
For me, it is to empty the mind and remember to enjoy the experience
Unicef Goodwill Ambassador
UNICEF Belgium contributes to UNICEF’s global mission, which is to ensure that all children grow up in a safe, healthy environment where they can thrive and reach their full potential. Across 190 countries and territories, UNICEF upholds the rights of every child, including adolescents, with a particular focus on those who are most excluded.
UNICEF’s work is guided by five key priorities: health, education, protection, climate, and social protection. These priorities are implemented through long-term development aid as well as humanitarian assistance during emergencies.
Nafi is deeply connected to the mission of supporting every child. Her voice and role are essential in carrying this message forward and in helping UNICEF Belgium advocate for children’s rights. Through her involvement, she strengthens efforts to ensure that every child, has every right.
Team
Coach
Michael Van der Plaetsen
Management
We Are Many
Business partners Helena Van der Plaetsen and Kim Vanderlinden founded We Are Many in 2010 and are specialized in guiding world-class athletes. They offer a full-service management and have been working with Nafi since 2013.
Pictures
Nafi has worked with Belga images throughout her career and is proud to portray a portfolio of some of the best pictures this collab has produced. None of these pictures can be used free of rights.
