The whole world is talking about Kosovo – the official Kosovo NOC website writes in commenting their judoka Majlinda Kelmendi’s performance.
Majlinda, 27, double world champion and holder of two Euroean titles, won the first Olympic gold medal ever for Kosovo in its very first participation at the Olympic Games.
The world No. 1 competes in the 52 kg weight category. After winning bronze four years ago while representing Albania, Majlinda gave Kosovo its first medal since becoming a member of the International Olympic Committee two years ago.
This is the first Olympics at which athletes can compete under the flag of Kosovo, which proclaimed independence from Serbia in 2008.
The Kosovo team’s flag bearer at the opening ceremony, Majlinda said to the media the victory was “huge” not only for her, but for Kosovo as a whole.
“To be honest, I came here for the gold medal, but it’s crazy. I’m so happy for me, for my coach, for all my country. This is the first time that Kosovo is part of the Olympics, and for the first time, I think gold is huge.
“It means a lot. People, especially kids in Kosovo, look to me as a hero.
“I just proved to them that even after the war, even after we survived a war, if they want something they can have it. If they want to be Olympic champions, they can be, even if we come from a small poor country”.
