Majlinda Kelmendi

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Majlinda Kelmendi
File:Majlinda Kelmendi 2015.png
Personal information
Nationality Kosovo
Born (1991-05-09) 9 May 1991 (age 33)
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
Gold medal – first place 2013 Rio de Janeiro −52 kg
European Championships
Gold medal – first place 2014 Montpellier −52 kg
Gold medal – first place 2016 Kazan −52 kg
IJF World Tour
IJF World Masters
Gold medal – first place 2013 IJF World Masters Tyumen −52 kg
Grand Slam
Gold medal – first place 2014 Grand Slam Paris −52 kg
Gold medal – first place 2014 Grand Slam Abu Dhabi −52 kg
Gold medal – first place 2015 Grand Slam Paris −52 kg
Gold medal – first place 2016 Grand Slam Paris −52 kg
Silver medal – second place 2013 Grand Slam Paris −52 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2015 Grand Slam Abu Dhabi −52 kg
Grand Prix
Gold medal – first place 2010 Grand Prix Tunis −52 kg
Gold medal – first place 2011 Grand Prix Abu Dhabi −52 kg
Gold medal – first place 2012 Grand Prix Abu Dhabi −52 kg
Gold medal – first place 2013 Grand Prix Samsun −52 kg
Gold medal – first place 2013 Grand Prix Dusseldorf −52 kg
Gold medal – first place 2014 Grand Prix Samsun −52 kg
Gold medal – first place 2014 Grand Prix Budapest −52 kg
Silver medal – second place 2011 Grand Prix Dusseldorf −52 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2011 Grand Prix Amsterdam −52 kg
Representing IJF
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2014 Chelyabinsk −52 kg
European Championships
Bronze medal – third place 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. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  5. ↑ http://teamalbanians.com/post/143170801079/kosovo-albanian-judoka-majlinda-kelmendi-wins
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ "Kosovo to compete at Rio 2016 Olympics after recognition from IOC", Associated Press, 9 December 2014.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  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.
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