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After the 2001 season, Rutger decides to focus on the "no drafting" long distance triathlon. Swimming is his weakest part in a triathlon event, and, despite him getting a little better every year, in Olympic distance races, the good swimmers are using the "drafting allowed" rule to form a pack and bike away.  Focusing on long distance means more international races. As a result, it becomes more difficult to participate in enough Belgian Super-prestige races. Therefore Rutger decides not to go for a win in the Super-prestige Trophy any longer.
His main objectives for the season are now a Belgian Championship title, either in short or long distance, a top-ten finish in the ITU long distance world championship in Nice and a qualification for Hawaii during Ironman Florida.

The season starts on a minor tone with two consecutive defeats after a final sprint, first in Geel (Belgium) and then in Leuven (Belgium), during the Belgian championship short distance. In Zundert (The Netherlands), the third race of the year, Rutger doesn't even finish because of stomach problems.
But then everything starts going better and Rutger launches a fantastic series. He wins the Belgian championship long distance in Brasschaat (Belgium), becomes second in Latem (Belgium) after Luc Van Lierde and wins two more 'Super-prestige' events in Antoign (Belgium) and Weiswampach (Luxemburg).


In the ITU short distance triathlon of Gent (Belgium), Rutger falls in the transition zone after the swimming and leaves the zone in about the last position. As explained before, he cannot close the gap with the top pack and starts the final run in 28th position. Nevertheless, after a superb rush forwards (his best 10k run ever!) , he finishes the event in tenth position, thus collecting for the first time some ITU points. Ten days later he wins the Zwintriathlon in Knokke, after a demonstration on the bike and in the run. But the best still has to come!!

In the ITU long distance world championship (Nice, France) Rutger catches the bronze medal after Neveu and Syndballe. In the Ironman Florida, his first full Ironman ever, he manages to finish third again, after Jason Shortis and Andreas Niedrig. Of course he gets his qualification for Hawaii 2003.

Once again, Rutger finishes the season with results that are much better than what he had put forward as his objectives at the season start.