Majlinda Kelmendi

Majlinda Kelmendi

Personal information
Nationality	Kosovo
Born	9 May 1991 Pejë, SFR Yugoslavia
Weight	−52 kg (−115 lb; −8.2 st)
Sport
Sport	Judo
Rank	1 (-52kg) [1]
Medal record Women's Judo Representing  Kosovo [lower-alpha 1] World Championships 2013 Rio de Janeiro −52 kg European Championships 2014 Montpellier −52 kg 2016 Kazan −52 kg IJF World Tour IJF World Masters 2013 IJF World Masters Tyumen −52 kg Grand Slam 2014 Grand Slam Paris −52 kg 2014 Grand Slam Abu Dhabi −52 kg 2015 Grand Slam Paris −52 kg 2016 Grand Slam Paris −52 kg 2013 Grand Slam Paris −52 kg 2015 Grand Slam Abu Dhabi −52 kg Grand Prix 2010 Grand Prix Tunis −52 kg 2011 Grand Prix Abu Dhabi −52 kg 2012 Grand Prix Abu Dhabi −52 kg 2013 Grand Prix Samsun −52 kg 2013 Grand Prix Dusseldorf −52 kg 2014 Grand Prix Samsun −52 kg 2014 Grand Prix Budapest −52 kg 2011 Grand Prix Dusseldorf −52 kg 2011 Grand Prix Amsterdam −52 kg Representing IJF World Championships 2014 Chelyabinsk −52 kg European Championships 2013 Budapest −52 kg

Majlinda Kelmendi (born 9 May 1991)^[2][3] is a Kosovar Albanian judoka^[4] and a Double World Champion with three European titles.^[5] As of 2013, Majlinda stands first in the international rankings by the International Judo Federation in the −52 kg category.^[6]

In 2014 Majlinda was declared as the best judoka in the world in all categories by the IJF president, Marius Vizer.^[7][8] On 24 December 2014, she was decorated by the President of Kosovo, Atifete Jahjaga with "Presidential Medal of Merit".^[9]

Early career

Born in Peja, Republic of Kosovo, Kelmendi began practicing the art of judo in 1999, in her hometown. Her current coach is Driton Kuka^[10][11]

In 2009, Kelmendi won the gold medal at the World Junior Championships in Paris, France.^[12] In 2010, she came 5th at the World Junior Championships in Morocco^[13] and finished 9th in the 52 kg category at the 2010 World Judo Championships in Tokyo, Japan.^[14]

Representation

Due to the resistance of International Olympic Committee and the United Nations, Kelmendi was not allowed to represent Kosovo at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London and instead chose to represent Albania, where most Albanians originating from Kosovo choose to represent.^[15]

However, in October 2014 the International Olympic Committee provisionally recognised the Olympic Committee of Kosovo and gave it full membership on 9 December 2014.^[16][17] It is expected that Kosovo will participate at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.^[18] It has been announced that Majlinda will wave Kosovo's flag during the Parade of Nations within the opening ceremony in Rio.^[19]

2013-present: Winning the WJC title and comeback

On 27 August 2013, Majlinda Kelmendi gave Kosovo their first ever judo world title on Tuesday as she beat Brazil's Erika Miranda in the −52 kilogrammes gold medal match in Rio de Janeiro.The 22-year-old – the first Kosovar judoka to win a medal at the championships since it became a state in its own right in 2008 – was not a shock winner as she came to Rio de Janeiro ranked number one in her category having won the prestigious Masters event.

On 26 August 2014, Majlinda Kelmendi maintained the Judo world title, winning the 2014 World Judo Championships. She only lost twice in 2013 and has beaten everyone of note in her division.^[20] On 31 October 2014, Majlinda Kelmendi won the gold medal at the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam 2014".

In August 2015 Kelmendi was injured, and so did not participate in the 2015 World Cup.

On 5 September 2015 she won the gold medal at the European Championship in Slovakia.

On 6 February 2016, she won the gold medal at Grand Slam Paris, making her third consecutive title after winning in 2014 and 2015. ^[21]

On 21 April, 2016, she earned a gold medal at the 2016 European Judo Championships in Kazan, Russia. ^[22]

References

1. "Judo Inside" (PDF).
2. "Kosovo: Majlinda, the judo star". BalcaniCaucaso. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
3. "The Olympics Interview: Majlinda Kelmendi". FP. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
4. "Majlinda Kelmendi". BBC. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
5. http://teamalbanians.com/post/143170801079/kosovo-albanian-judoka-majlinda-kelmendi-wins
6. "IJF World Ranking List – 27/02/2013". International Judo Federation. International Judo Federation. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
7. "Vizer shpall Majlindën më të mirën në botë". Telegrafi.com. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
8. "Majlinda nënkupton sukses". RTK Live. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
9. "Majlinda Kelmendi dekorohet me Medaljen Presidenciale të Meritave". Telegrafi. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
10. Browne, Luke. "The Olympics Interview: Majlinda Kelmendi". Financial Times. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
11. Eades, David (21 July 2012). "Politics bears down on 2012 hopeful Majlinda Kelmendi". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
12. Mark Lowen (17 September 2010). "BBC Sport – Politics bears down on 2012 hopeful Majlinda Kelmendi". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
13. "IJF World Championship Juniors 2010 – 52kg category results" (PDF). IJF website. International Judo Federation. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
14. "World Championships 2010 – 52kg category results" (PDF). IJF website. International Judo Federation. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
15. Jackson, Jamie (29 July 2012). "London 2012: Judo's Majlinda Kelmendi still fighting for recognition". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
16. Karolos Grohmann (23 October 2014). "Olympics: IOC has no concerns over Kosovo recognition". Reuters.
17. "Kosovo to compete at Rio 2016 Olympics after recognition from IOC", Associated Press, 9 December 2014.
18. "Kosovo given go-ahead by IOC to take part in 2016 Olympics". the Guardian.
19. "Majlinda Kelmendi carries the flag of Kosovo at Rio 2016". 100Judo.com. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
20. T.P. Grant (26 August 2014). "2014 World Judo Championships Day 2: Men's -60kg and Women's". Bloody Elbow.
21. "JudoInside - News - Majlinda Kelmendi claims third title in Paris".
22. "IJF live results".

1. Kosovo is the subject of a territorial dispute between the Republic of Kosovo and the Republic of Serbia. The Republic of Kosovo unilaterally declared independence on 17 February 2008, but Serbia continues to claim it as part of its own sovereign territory. The two governments began to normalise relations in 2013, as part of the Brussels Agreement. Kosovo has been recognised as an independent state by 108 out of 193 United Nations member states.