Meet Otto – the Salt Lake City 2002 Paralympic Winter Games Mascot

Otto the otter was selected as the mascot for the Salt Lake City 2002 Paralympic Winter Games because of the animal’s agility and resilience. Otto is an American River Otter, and he is a prolific swimmer and running enthusiast. He is best known for his active, playful and energetic personality. He was a great cheerleader for the athletes during the Games and expressed his love for watching Paralympic sports. At the Salt Lake City 2002 Paralympics, which took place from 7-16 March 2022, the cute mascot shared his excitement about sports with all the athletes and fans from around the world.

Otto the otter is the official mascot of the Salt Lake City 2002 Paralympic Winter Games.

ⒸIPC

Get to Know: The Design and Symbolism

London-based illustrator Steve Small designed the Paralympic mascot, along with its Olympic counterparts Powder, Copper and Coal. Otto’s name means ‘eight’ in Italian because Salt Lake City hosted the eighth Paralympic Winter Games ever to take place.

Otter is an animal with a long history in Utah, with Native American tribes once living there considering it to be one of the most powerful animals. Having nearly reached extinction in the early 20th century, otters were successfully reintroduced into the wild in 1990, showing that even the largest setbacks can be overcome.