Name: Gianpiero Cavallotti Villalobos
City / Country: Costa Rica
Birth Date: 09/09/1997
Modality: Singles, Doubles and Mixed
At what age did you start in Badminton?
“I started at age 12, after my uncle taught me the sport. He found his old rackets in his closet and, together with my cousin (Lauren Villalobos), we started playing. Then, we joined the Costa Rica Badminton Academy (ABCR).”
In how many tournaments have you participated and which have been your best results?
“I have participated in more than 15 tournaments, national and international. My best result has been a gold medal in several Central American tournaments held in Costa Rica and a third place in the United States.”
To how many countries has Badminton taken you?
“Badminton has taken me to Guatemala, El Salvador, Mexico, the United States, Peru and the Dominican Republic.”
What anecdotes come to your mind when you remember your trips?
“I remember how nervous I felt when going down from the bleachers to warm up for a game, the expectation and the mystery of knowing what will happen in the game.”
Which are your short and medium term objectives as a Badminton player?
“In the short term I intend to campaign to qualify for the Pan Am Games Lima 2019. In the medium term I want to continue training and be the sparring or opponent to beat for the future players of Costa Rica.”
Do you perform other activities in parallel to you career as a Badminton player, such as studies or work?
“Yes, I study Psychology at the University of Costa Rica and I am a coach of the Badminton Club Victoria School.”
How sacrificed is it to train, study and work at the same time?
“It is very sacrificial to do the 3 things at the same time. Sometimes it means getting up early to be able to do physical training before going to classes, to leave hurriedly from classes to go to the training in courts and sleep after studying in the nigth.”
What are your favorite hobbies?
“I like reading but I also write novels and poetry. Sometimes I like to draw too.”
Who was you first coach?
“When I joined the ABCR I had 3 coaches who started my sports training: Adrián Gomez, Sharon Springer and Frans Scholl. Then, Marco Villalobos joined them.”
What is the hardest part of being a high level athlete?
“The most difficult thing is to maintain the discipline and control (even of oneself) that one must have. Food, rest and social life change a lot in order to be a good athlete.”
Is Badminton popular in your country?
“Not much. When you tell someone that you train badminton, you usually have to finish explaining what it is, how to play and only then can they identify it.”
What would you say to people who want to practice badminton but see that it is not very popular in their country?
“I would say them that badminton is an incredible sport in which you can compete very differently from traditional ones. Also Badminton is very fun even when you do not compete and you only take it as a hobby or family activity.”
