Majlinda Kelmendi PMM (Albanian pronunciation: [majˈlinda kɛlˈmɛndi]; born 9 May 1991) is a Kosovan-Albanian former judoka and judo coach.[4]
In 2014, Majlinda topped the IJF Women's Prestige World Ranking List.[6][7] On 7 August 2016, she became the first Kosovan athlete to win a medal at the Olympic Games when she claimed gold in the women's 52 kg category at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.[8] She also represented Albania at the 2012 Summer Olympics.[9][10]
Early life[edit]
Majlinda Kelmendi was born on 9 May 1991 into a Kosovo Albanian family in the city of Peja, then part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, present-day Kosovo.[11][12][2][3][13] She was the cousin (aunt's daughter) of the Swedish footballer of Kosovan descent Labinot Harbuzi.[14]
Career[edit]
In 2009, Kelmendi won the gold medal at the World Junior Championships in Paris.[15] In 2010, she came 5th at the World Junior Championships in Morocco[16] and finished 9th in the 52 kg category at the 2010 World Judo Championships in Tokyo, Japan.[17] She defeated Jaana Sundberg in the first round of the 2012 Olympics but then lost to Christianne Legentil in the second round.[18]
At the 2013 World Judo Championships, Kelmendi gave Kosovo its first ever judo world title as she beat Brazil's Érika Miranda in the –52 kg gold medal match in Rio de Janeiro. The 22-year-old – the first Kosovar judoka to win a medal at the championships since Kosovo's declaration of independence in 2008 – was not a shock winner as she came to Rio de Janeiro ranked number one in her category having won the prestigious 2013 World Masters event.[citation needed] Kelmendi retained the world title in 2014. She only lost twice in 2013 and had beaten everyone of note in her division.[19] She did not defend her title the following year due to injury.
In February 2016, she won the gold medal at Paris Grand Slam, making her third consecutive title after winning in 2014 and 2015.[20] Two months later, she earned a gold medal at the 2016 European Championships in Kazan, Russia.[21] At the 2016 Summer Olympics she became the first ever Kosovan athlete to win a gold medal, or any medal at all, for Kosovo at an Olympic Games.[8] Controversy arose when reports emerged that she had declined to take an unscheduled doping control test in June in France; her trainer insists she is clean, and that she refused due to the tester having no authorisation from WADA.[22]
Due to the resistance of International Olympic Committee and the United Nations, Kelmendi was unable to represent Kosovo at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Also, IOC turned down Kelmendi's request to compete as an independent athlete. Kelmendi chose to represent Albania, as the vast majority of Kosovars are ethnic Albanians.
In October 2014, the International Olympic Committee provisionally recognised the Olympic Committee of Kosovo and gave it full membership on 9 December 2014.[23][24] Kosovo participated at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the country's first appearance at an Olympic event.[25] Kelmendi was Kosovo's flag bearer during the Parade of Nations of the opening ceremony in Rio.[26] Her gold medal in those games was Kosovo's first ever Olympic medal. She is also a citizen of Albania and has an Albanian passport.[2][3]
In 2021, she won one of the bronze medals in her event at the 2021 Judo World Masters held in Doha, Qatar.[27][28] A month later, she won one of the bronze medals in her event at the 2021 Judo Grand Slam Tel Aviv held in Tel Aviv, Israel.[29][30] She competed in the women's 52 kg event at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.[31]
Statistics[edit]
Medals record[edit]
Source:[32]
- 2009
52 kg − World Cup, Prague- 2010
52 kg − World Cup, Sofia
52 kg − European Cup, Sarajevo- 52 kg − Grand Prix, Tunis
- 52 kg − World Cup, Tallinn
- 2011
- 52 kg − World Cup, Sofia
- 52 kg − Grand Prix, Düsseldorf
- 52 kg − World Cup, Lisbon
- 52 kg − World Cup, Rome
- 52 kg − World Cup, Minsk
- 52 kg − Grand Prix, Abu Dhabi
- 52 kg − Grand Prix, Amsterdam
- 2012
- 52 kg − European Cup, Prague
- 52 kg − World Cup, Rome
- 52 kg − World Cup, Istanbul
- 52 kg − Grand Prix, Abu Dhabi
- 2013
- 52 kg − Grand Slam, Paris
- 52 kg − Grand Prix, Düsseldorf
- 52 kg − Grand Prix, Samsun
- 52 kg − European Championships, Budapest
- 52 kg − World Masters, Tyumen
- 52 kg − World Championships, Rio de Janeiro
- 2014
- 52 kg − Grand Slam, Paris
- 52 kg − Grand Prix, Samsun
- 52 kg − European Championships, Montpellier
- 52 kg − Grand Prix, Budapest
- 52 kg − World Championships, Chelyabinsk
- 52 kg − Grand Slam, Abu Dhabi
- 2015
- 52 kg − European Cup, Prague
- 52 kg − World Cup, Lisbon
- 52 kg − Grand Slam, Paris
- 52 kg − Grand Slam, Abu Dhabi
- 2016
- 52 kg − Grand Slam, Paris
- 52 kg − European Championships, Kazan
- 52 kg − Grand Prix, Budapest
- 52 kg − Olympic Games, Rio de Janeiro
- 2017
- 52 kg − Grand Slam, Paris
- 52 kg − European Championships, Warsaw
- 2018
- 52 kg − Grand Slam, Abu Dhabi
- 52 kg − Grand Prix, Tashkent
- 2019
- 52 kg − Grand Prix, Tel Aviv
- 52 kg − Grand Slam, Düsseldorf
- 52 kg − European Games, Minsk
- 52 kg − World Championships, Tokyo
- 52 kg − Grand Slam, Abu Dhabi
- 2021
- 52 kg − World Masters, Doha
References[edit]
- ^ "Presidentja Atifete Jahjaga ia ndau Majlinda Kelmendit Medaljen Presidenciale të Meritave" (in Albanian). Presidential Office of Kosovo. Archived from the original on 25 September 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
- ^ a b c Browne, Luke (19 May 2012). "The Olympics Interview: Majlinda Kelmendi". Financial Times (FT). Archived from the original on 25 September 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
- ^ a b c "London 2012: Judoka's Kosovo Olympic bid turned down". British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). 25 May 2012. Archived from the original on 25 September 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
- ^ a b "Majlinda Kelmendi njofton për pensionim nga xhudo" [Majlinda Kelmendi announces retirement from judo] (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 26 July 2021. Archived from the original on 2 August 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
- ^ "Elita kombëtare e sportit shqiptar, kampionë olimpikë, botërorë dhe europianë nderohen me grada honorifike" [The national elite of Albanian sports, Olympic, world and European champions are honored with honorary degrees] (in Albanian). Prime Minister's Office (Albania). 6 April 2023.
- ^ "Kelmendi and Tchrikishvili crowned IJF Prestige World Ranking List winners". International Judo Federation. Archived from the original on 9 August 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
- ^ "Vizer shpall Majlindën më të mirën në botë". Telegrafi.com. Archived from the original on 7 May 2019. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
- ^ a b MacPhail, Cameron (7 August 2016). "Majlinda Kelmendi makes history with victory in women's judo as Kosovo wins first ever gold medal". rio2016.com. Rio 2016. Archived from the original on 8 August 2016. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
- ^ "London 2012 Olympics – Majlinda Kelmendi : Albania, Judo". Archived from the original on 19 September 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
- ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Majlinda Kelmendi". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 4 December 2016.
- ^ "Rreth Majlinda Kelmendi" (in Albanian). Insporti. Archived from the original on 25 September 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
- ^ "Majlinda Kelmendi". Kosovo Info. Archived from the original on 25 September 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
- ^ Kasapolli, V. (20 May 2010). "Kosovo: Majlinda, the judo star". Balcani e Caucaso Transeuropa. Archived from the original on 25 September 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
- ^ "Majlinda Kelmendi: Medaljen e artë ia dedikoj një personi të veçantë, tezakut të ndjerë Labinot Harbuzi" [Majlinda Kelmendi: I dedicate the gold medal to a special person, the late cousin Labinot Harbuzi] (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 23 June 2019. Archived from the original on 16 September 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
- ^ Mark Lowe (17 September 2010). "Politics bears down on 2012 hopeful Majlinda Kelmendi". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 25 March 2019. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
- ^ "IJF World Championship Juniors 2010 – 52kg category results" (PDF). International Judo Federation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 November 2013. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
- ^ "World Championships 2010 – 52kg category results" (PDF). IJF website. International Judo Federation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 November 2013. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
- ^ "London 2012: 48-52kg halflightweight women – Olympic Judo". International Olympic Committee. Archived from the original on 25 March 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
- ^ T.P. Grant (26 August 2014). "2014 World Judo Championships Day 2: Men's −60kg and Women's". Bloody Elbow. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
- ^ "JudoInside – News – Majlinda Kelmendi claims third title in Paris". Archived from the original on 4 July 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
- ^ "IJF live results". Archived from the original on 5 June 2018. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
- ^ "Kosovo's First Ever Olympic Medalist on Her 'Great Moment'". Time. Archived from the original on 25 March 2019. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
- ^ Karolos Grohmann (23 October 2014). "Olympics: IOC has no concerns over Kosovo recognition". Reuters. Archived from the original on 25 January 2020. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
- ^ "Kosovo to compete at Rio 2016 Olympics after recognition from IOC" Archived 15 September 2019 at the Wayback Machine, Associated Press, 9 December 2014.
- ^ "Kosovo given go-ahead by IOC to take part in 2016 Olympics". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 7 May 2019. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
- ^ "Majlinda Kelmendi carries the flag of Kosovo at Rio 2016". 100Judo.com. Archived from the original on 7 May 2019. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
- ^ "2021 Judo World Masters". International Judo Federation. Archived from the original on 12 January 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
- ^ Gillen, Nancy (11 January 2021). "Olympic silver medallist An wins under-66kg contest at IJF World Judo Masters". InsideTheGames.biz. Archived from the original on 11 January 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
- ^ Rowbottom, Mike (18 February 2021). "Shock defeats for Kelmendi and Bilodid at Tel Aviv Grand Slam". InsideTheGames.biz. Archived from the original on 18 February 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ "2021 Judo Grand Slam Tel Aviv". International Judo Federation. Archived from the original on 23 February 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ "Judo Results Book" (PDF). 2020 Summer Olympics. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 August 2021. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
- ^ "Majlinda Kelmendi, Judoka, Judobase". Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
External links[edit]
- Majlinda Kelmendi at the International Judo Federation
- Majlinda Kelmendi at JudoInside.com
- Majlinda Kelmendi at AllJudo.net (in French)
- Majlinda Kelmendi at Olympics.com
- Majlinda Kelmendi at Olympedia
- Majlinda Kelmendi at The-Sports.org
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World Judo Championships — Women's Half Lightweight | |
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1980–present: –52 kg | |
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European Judo Championships — Women's Half Lightweight | |
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1974–present: –52 kg | |
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| International | |
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| Other | |