Otto Calvo Quirós was born on February 11, 1975. He currently lives in Tibás, San José, Costa Rica. This athlete is a professional nurse and works as a Director of Nursing in the Catedral Noreste Health Area, in the Costa Rican Health System.
This athlete began the practice of athletics since he was 10 years old on his neighborhood competitions and school years. However, it was during high school when he started to participate in Interschool Games, National Sports Games, University Games (JUNCOS), national championships of the Costa Rican Athletics Federation (FECOA) and, subsequently, in the master category with the Association of Masters of Athletics of Costa Rica (ADEMA).
He began with the athletics team of the Liceo de Costa Rica, and then with the Cantonal Sports Committee of San José, in the master category for the Team Pajamas. Currently, he is being trained by Mr. Carlos Abbott Sharpe, in the Abbott`s Team, who was his trainer and mentor for this discipline during the National Games and Senior Category stage. After work and on weekends, he conducts his training. At this time he does not have any type of sponsorship.
Otto heard on the radio about a sporting event (National Sports Games) that motivated him to want to participate and he said to himself “I’ll be in the next ones”. He started running with running shoes that were not athletic and had holes in the soles, but in that way he participated in interschool competitions. At that moment, he understood that this was his passion, that he could achieve all that was proposed, and managed to reach the desired games. Otto had to make raffles to buy his first training and competitions running shoes. A year later, he had committed himself to attend the National Games, but not only that, he exceeded the expectations of his coaches and won medals. On an occasion, he had to compete with borrowed spikes and running shoes, but that did not stop him from achieving his goal. These are just some examples of what he had to go through in order to practice this beautiful sport.
Otto comments that, “Afterwards, I had pending something the representation of my country, due to finishing my nursing career I had to abandon the high performance competitive practice. It was, again, through ADEMA, that I was able to be part of the national delegation in the Central American Games Master in Guatemala 2012 and be at the top of the podium the jousts and from there on I participated in two tournaments in the NCCWMA “.
This middle distance runner specialized in track tests of 400 meters and 800 meters. For the Toronto NCCWMA Championship 2017, he started in the 400 meters hurdles; as well as relays 4×100, 4×400 and 4×800.
His best record, in 800 meters dash is 2: 00.01 which earned him the gold medal in National Sports Games in his youth stage. In the NCCWMA Championship he achieved a mark of 55.7s, in 400 meters dash.
As a professional in nursing, Otto affirms that the benefits that come from practicing sport go beyond the physical aspect, but that it becomes even more integral in body, mind and spirit; since well-being is achieved in the person, by the liberation of endorphins, which generate a greater sensation of pleasure, fullness and joy. This is the perfect complement to achieve a better performance, both competitive and recreational; and a personal balance which helps to improve the quality of life of people.
His goals, in the practice of athletics, are to continue to improve records and be at the top of the national and international competitions, and prove that he can fight against himself, who is the main rival that he has.
His dreams in the practice of athletics are to finish his preparation to be a Sports Training Technician and to be able to train athletes or people interested in sports practice, as well as to achieve a world championship in athletics. This athlete learned, from his parents, the importance of courage, effort, dedication and discipline. He has always had the inspiration, as well as the motivation of his family, who supports him from the bleachers during the competitions, to achieve his goals. In addition, he has friends and close people who encourage him to give the best of himself, always.