He won the bronze medal in the men's beach team competition at the 2003 Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, partnering with Ramón Hernández.

[2] In the Pan American Games held in the Dominican Republic in August 2003, Raúl Papaleo and his teammate, Ramon Hernandez, won the bronze medal by defeating the U.S. team, represented by David Fischer and Brad Torsone, by 21–17 and 21–14 in 43 minutes.

[3] Raúl Papaleo and Ramon Hernandez represented Puerto Rico in the 2004 Olympics which were held in Athens.

This was the first time in the history of Puerto Rico that the island was represented in beach volleyball in an Olympic competition.

[4] Papaleo finished in second place at the 2006 NORCECA Men's Beach Volleyball Continental Championship along with Joseph Gil.