majlinda kelmendi

Majlinda Kelmendi secured Kosovo’s first-ever judo world title in the –52 kg category at the 2013 World Judo Championships in Rio de Janeiro, a historic achievement she successfully defended in 2014. Her journey to global recognition began with a gold medal at the World Junior Championships in Paris in 2009, followed by a 5th place finish at the World Junior Championships in Morocco and a 9th place in the 52 kg category at the 2010 World Judo Championships in Tokyo, Japan. Demonstrating consistent excellence, Kelmendi further cemented her status with a prestigious win at the 2013 World Masters, establishing herself as a leading figure in her weight class. Kelmendi’s career reached its zenith at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, where she became the first athlete from Kosovo to win an Olympic medal, capturing a historic gold in the women’s 52 kg category.

Her consistency was further highlighted by a gold medal at the Paris Grand Slam in 2017 and a bronze medal at the 2019 World Championships in Tokyo, underscoring her enduring skill and top-tier performance capability. After her retirement from competitive judo in 2021, Kelmendi’s final competitive achievements included a bronze medal at the Doha Masters in 2021 and another bronze at the Tel Aviv Grand Slam, also in 2021. Majlinda Kelmendi remains an influential figure in the sport, widely celebrated as an Olympic judo champion and multiple-time world and European medalist. She now contributes her extensive expertise as a judo coach, inspiring and guiding future generations of athletes.