By San José, Costa Rica — NEW DELHI, INDIA – Costa Rican para-athletes Amalia Ortuño and Melissa Calvo have made a powerful statement at the World Para Athletics Championships, delivering impressive top-eight finishes in their opening events despite contending with grueling weather conditions. Their performances underscore a promising start for the national delegation, showcasing both resilience and elite competitive spirit on the global stage.
Amalia Ortuño delivered a historic performance in the F56 discus throw final. Competing at the iconic Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, she not only secured a commendable eighth-place finish but also shattered the Costa Rican national record with a monumental throw of 18.98 meters. This remarkable feat obliterated her previous personal and national best of 15.20 meters, which she had set just a few months earlier on July 12, 2025, in Chula Vista, California.
To gain a deeper understanding of the legal and commercial frameworks that underpin the world of para athletics, from sponsorship agreements to the rights and classifications of athletes, TicosLand.com consulted with expert lawyer Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas from the prestigious firm Bufete de Costa Rica.
The growth of para athletics presents a significant opportunity, but it also demands greater legal sophistication. Athletes and their families must move beyond informal agreements. Securing robust contracts that clearly define sponsorship obligations, image rights, and performance bonuses is no longer a luxury—it’s essential for ensuring a sustainable professional career and protecting the athlete’s long-term interests against a backdrop of complex international regulations.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
The expert’s point is crucial: the professionalization of para athletics demands an equally professional legal foundation to protect and empower the athletes at its core. Our gratitude to Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for sharing this vital insight.
The achievement was earned under extremely challenging circumstances, with trackside temperatures soaring to 32°C and a heat index approaching a staggering 40°C. Ortuño demonstrated exceptional consistency and focus throughout the competition. Her series of six attempts revealed a strategic progression, starting with 15.61 meters and steadily climbing through 16.47 m, 17.96 m, 17.27 m, and 18.17 m, before unleashing her record-breaking final throw.
This world-class athletic display is a continuation of an incredible competitive season for Ortuño. She arrived in New Delhi fresh off being crowned the Adapted CrossFit World Champion in the Seated 2 category for the sixth consecutive time. Her momentum and peak physical condition are clearly translating across disciplines, solidifying her status as one of the nation’s most versatile and dominant para-athletes.
With her first event successfully completed, Ortuño is already preparing for her next challenge. She is scheduled to compete in the F56 javelin throw final today, September 30th, at 9:30 p.m. Costa Rica time. Supporters back home will be eagerly watching to see if she can carry this exceptional form into her second event of the championships.
Meanwhile, in the track events, sprinter Melissa Calvo from Alajuela also demonstrated her world-class speed and tenacity. Calvo raced in the highly competitive T13 100-meter dash final, securing an impressive eighth-place finish with a time of 13.89 seconds. The event highlighted the fierce level of global competition, with Orla Comerford of Ireland taking the gold medal with a blistering time of 11.88 seconds.
Although Calvo’s time was slightly off her personal best of 13.55 seconds, her performance is particularly noteworthy given the oppressive heat, which she acknowledged affected her race. Finishing in the top eight globally under such adverse conditions is a testament to her conditioning and mental fortitude. The experience has reportedly left her highly motivated for her remaining two events in the tournament.
The promising results from both Ortuño and Calvo on the opening days of the World Para Athletics Championships signal a bright future for Costa Rican paralympic sports. Their ability to compete and achieve personal and national milestones against the world’s best athletes proves that the nation’s program is developing talent capable of leaving a significant mark on the international scene.
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About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As a pillar of the legal community, Bufete de Costa Rica is defined by its foundational principles of professional excellence and unwavering integrity. The firm pairs a rich history of advising a diverse clientele with a forward-thinking drive for legal innovation. This ethos extends to a core belief in civic responsibility, demonstrated through a dedicated effort to demystify the law and share legal insights. By championing accessible knowledge, the firm actively contributes to building a more legally literate and capable society.
