Majlinda Kelmendi

Majlinda Kelmendi (born 9 May 1991, Peja, Kosovo) is a Kosovan judoka, two-time World Champion, four-time European Champion, and the first Olympic gold medallist in the history of Kosovo. Competing in the under-52 kg weight category, she is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished judokas of her generation. After retiring from competitive sport in 2021, she transitioned into a coaching role within the Kosovo national judo team.

Photography: Getty Images/L. Griffiths

Youth and Education

Majlinda Kelmendi was born on 9 May 1991 in Peja, a city in western Kosovo. She grew up in a sporting family, which contributed to her early interest in physical activity. She was introduced to judo by her sister and began training in 1999, at the age of eight, shortly after the end of the Kosovo war. From the very beginning, her coach Driton "Toni" Kuka recognised her exceptional talent and potential.

The conditions in which she trained were far from ideal. The dojo in Peja had suffered damage during the war and was poorly equipped, with a leaking roof. Kuka took on every role himself — coach, physiotherapist, and trainer — to support her development. Despite these hardships, Kelmendi demonstrated extraordinary dedication. She recalled skipping family holidays for ten consecutive years in order not to miss a single training session.

Career and Achievements

Kelmendi began her international career in 2008, competing in the European Cup in Luzern. In 2009, she won the gold medal at the World Junior Championships in Paris — the first world-level title won by a Kosovan athlete in judo. This victory also helped Kosovo gain membership in the International Judo Federation (IJF).

Her transition to senior competition brought further success. She claimed gold at the Grand Prix in Tunisia in 2010, and continued to build her reputation on the IJF World Tour, accumulating 18 gold medals across her career. She became World Champion for the first time in 2013 in Rio de Janeiro and repeated the achievement in 2014, also topping the IJF Women's Prestige World Ranking that year.

At the 2012 London Olympics, Kosovo was not yet recognised by the International Olympic Committee, and Kelmendi competed under the Albanian flag. When Kosovo was admitted to the IOC in 2014, she was finally able to represent her homeland. On 7 August 2016, at the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games, she won the gold medal in the women's under-52 kg category, becoming Kosovo's first-ever Olympic medallist across all sports.

She also won the European Championship title four times and represented Kosovo at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games before announcing her retirement from competitive judo in October 2021.

Paris Grand Slam 2017, SEMI-FINAL KOS KELMENDI vs USA DELGADO, -52 kg
(c) Sabau Gabriela

Notable Contributions and Legacy

Kelmendi's 2016 Olympic victory marked a turning point for sport in Kosovo. Her achievement drew national and international attention to Kosovo's judo programme and directly influenced government investment in sports infrastructure. A dedicated national training centre was subsequently established, and judo became the most popular individual sport in the country.

Her impact extended beyond sport. Kosovo's President Vjosa Osmani awarded her the Shotë Galica Order at her retirement ceremony in December 2021, an honour given for bravery and contribution to gender equality. The government also recognised her as a Citizen of Special Merit for her role in promoting Kosovo internationally through sport.

Two of her teammates, Distria Krasniqi and Nora Gjakova, won Olympic gold medals at the Tokyo 2020 Games, both crediting Kelmendi as a source of inspiration. Kosovo thus became one of very few nations to win three Olympic gold medals in judo within its first two Olympic participations.

A bronze statue of Kelmendi was unveiled in her hometown of Peja, making her one of the rare living athletes to be honoured with a statue.

Majlinda Kelmendi, the first athlete from Kosovo to win an Olympic Games gold medal, unveiled a statue of herself in her hometown.

Personal Life

Kelmendi has remained closely connected to her hometown of Peja throughout her career and after retirement. She has spoken publicly about the importance of family support during her years of training and competition. Deeply committed to the growth of judo in Kosovo, she returned to the sport as a coach following her retirement, working alongside her longtime mentor Driton Kuka to develop the next generation of Kosovan judokas.

Post-Career: Coaching

Following her official retirement in December 2021, Kelmendi joined the Kosovo national judo team as a coach. She has spoken about the challenges of the transition, noting that coaching can be more demanding than competing. Her goal is to pass on her knowledge and experience to young athletes and help sustain Kosovo's success in international judo.