Raquel was born on January 28, 1981, and grew up in La Vega, a small town in the central region of the Dominican Republic. In this small town, where there were only two bookstores, things were simple; life was quiet and safe. Raquel swam from the age of 3, participating in kids ’ swimming events until about the age of 11.

Initially, swimming was not her passion during her childhood years; she always showed interest in cycling, so Raquel joined a local MTB club. A few years later, her swim coach, observing her agility and passion on the bike, mentioned a sport totally unknown to many called "triathlon”