Cornell Big Red Men’s Heavyweight Rowing captain Constantino Oberto Calleri shared his philosophy of prioritizing commitments in a statement released on Apr. 9. Oberto Calleri said, “For every yes you say, you have to protect it with a lot of no’s. A lot of no’s.” He explained that at Cornell, his main focuses are rowing, academics, and family.
Oberto Calleri’s approach highlights the importance of dedication for student-athletes balancing sports and education. His background includes growing up in Indiana with Argentine roots and a family history steeped in athletics. According to Oberto Calleri, “We grew up in Indiana, but culturally we stayed very Argentine,” referencing frequent visits to Argentina and the family’s athletic tradition.
He initially pursued tennis before transitioning to rowing during his time at Culver Military Academy. After being introduced to the sport by a coach who noticed his build, he quickly improved his performance on the rowing machine through consistent training: “You do the training, you get the result,” he said.
The sense of teamwork drew him further into rowing after years spent competing individually in tennis. “I’m a people person,” Oberto Calleri said. “I love working with people. I like building something together.” This team spirit was reinforced during an experience training with an Italian club in Rome where he formed close bonds with teammates and developed fluency in Italian.
Oberto Calleri now studies Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University while continuing as one of the fastest athletes on the team—a collegiate program based in Ithaca that is affiliated with Cornell University and competes in the Ivy League according to the official website. The program features Big Red as its mascot according to the official website.
Looking ahead, Oberto Calleri plans to pursue law school with hopes of becoming a sports agent: “I love sports,” he said. “I love helping athletes.” For him, success comes down to making deliberate choices: “If you really want something,” he said, “you do what it takes.”
