Judo

Even after her retirement in 2021, Majlinda Kelmendi continues to be an iconic figure for judo and particularly for Kosovo.
“My popularity is still the same, maybe people remember me and respect me so much because I was the first one to have won every title for the country in

Majlinda KELMENDI

Kelmendi Coach 2

Judo legend Majlinda Kelmendi exclusive: Rise of female coaches is very inspiring

Epic matches, historic titles, big upsets: the 2019 judo world championships had it all.
The rise of teen prodigies Daria Bilodid and Uta Abe, the dominant performance from pound-for-pound king Shohei Ono and the tenacity of four-time world champion Clarisse Agbegnenou highlighted the event at the Nippon Budokan, where the

Daria Bilodid THUMB

Ten things we learned from the 2019 judo world championships

Kosovo's first Olympic champion told us why she doesn't feel the pressure of the whole country anymore.

Tokyo 2020 | Olympic Games

Kelmendi_THUMB_1563911244083.jpg

Majlinda Kelmendi: "This is why I keep winning"

Majlinda Kelmendi’s gold medal in Rio put Kosovo on top of the podium for the first time soon after being welcomed into the Olympic family.

Rio 2016 | Olympic Games

Originals

E04_1_1588681258334.jpg

How Majlinda Kelmendi’s historic Olympic medal put Kosovo on the map

At Rio 2016, many women achieved unprecedented feats, including Team GB's first Olympic trampoline medallist Bryony Page.

GCPR-AGAINSTS05E016C-_E17070701.jpeg

Against All Odds - Top 5 women who made history at Rio 2016

One of the best judokas in the world speaks about her  tough journey to win the first ever medal for her home country.

GCDG-RIOPRODS02E003-_E16080101.jpeg

Majlinda Kelmendi - from Underdog to Topdog

Kosovo wins first ever medal as Majlinda Kemeldi takes gold in women's 52kg judo at Rio 2016.

GCDG-RIOSTS03E004-_E16080901.jpeg

Kosovo wins first-ever medal

Highlights from day 3 at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

Day08_Postcards3_1534864223988.jpg

Postcards from Rio - Day 3: triple swimming feats

United States of America

Simone

Simone Biles - Olympics.com

Sweden

Armand

Armand Duplantis - Olympics.com

Mikaela

Mikaela SHIFFRIN

Ilia

Ilia Malinin - Olympics.com

Majlinda

Judo’s star Majlinda Kelmendi has been called many things: Ambassador, heroine, symbol of hope.
All her given titles carry great weight and, when you consider both the depth of Kelmendi’s achievements and the impact those conquests have had on the world and those looking up to her, you can see

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 07: Majlinda Kelmendi of Kosovo shows her emotions as she celebrates winning the gold medal against Odette Giuffrida of Italy during the Women's -52kg gold medal final on Day 2 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Carioca Arena 2 on August 7, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Majlinda Kelmendi

Majlinda Kelmendi relives her amazing career: from golden Rio ecstasy to panic attacks post-Tokyo 2020

The Rio 2016 judo Olympic gold medallist shares exclusively how difficult it was being Kosovo's only Olympic champion before Tokyo 2020: "I had always been the only one and it was just terrible. Nothing felt good as... I had to take gold. I was thinking of the whole country." The now-retired athlete wants to inspire new judokas and grow the sport globally.

KelmendiPortrait

Majlinda Kelmendi: "I am not Simone Biles, but in my country I am even more"

Kosovan Majlinda Kelmendi has officially announced her retirement from competitive judo.
The 30-year-old, whose extensive curriculum vitae includes two world championship titles, four European titles and an Olympic gold medal, was an indomitable force in the women’s -52kg category.
Kelmendi's crowning achievement came at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games after

Kelmendi banner1

Olympic judo legend Majlinda Kelmendi announces retirement

Two-time world judo champion ABE Uta wept after winning gold for the host nation after defeating France’s Amandine Buchard in the women’s 52kg final at Tokyo 2020 on 25 July.
The 21-year-old, who was making her Olympic debut, had a tough battle to claim victory against European champion Buchard at

GettyImages-1330516605

ABE Uta wins gold for host nation in Olympic debut in women’s judo 52kg

French judoka Shirine Boukli shocked two-time reigning world champion Daria Bilodid to land the -48kg title on a thrilling first day of action at the Tel Aviv Grand Slam on Thursday (18 February).
The European champion went into the final as the underdog against Ukraine's Bilodid.
But Boukli refused to

Judo - Paris International Grand Slam judo tournament - Women under 48kg - AccorHotels Arena, Paris, France - February 8, 2020. Shirine Boukli of France in action. REUTERS/Christian Hartmann

2020-02-08T210216Z_1282504084_RC2LWE9M2X8W_RTRMADP_3_JUDO-FRANCE

Shirine Boukli too good for Daria Bilodid on day of shocks at Tel Aviv Grand Slam

Olympic judo champion Majlinda Kelmendi of Kosovo fought her way to bronze on the first day of the Doha Masters as the new IJF World Judo Tour season began in Qatar.
The 29-year-old won through her women's under-52 kg pool before losing to France's Amandine Buchard in the semi-finals by

GettyImages-1170262621

Olympic champ Majlinda Kelmendi takes bronze at season-opening Doha Masters

Wayde van Niekerk is clearly a torn man.
The decision to postpone the Tokyo 2020 Olympics until 2021 due to the coronavirus outbreak came as a blow to the 27-year-old South African, but he now wants to focus on the silver lining of the situation.
“I’m trying to see the

GettyImages-589529726

Wayde van Niekerk sees silver lining despite Olympic 'downer'

Japanese judoka Uta Abe has secured her second-consecutive world title.
The 19-year-old beat Russia's Natalia Kuziutina with an ippon after just 29 seconds of the 2019 judo world championships women's -52kg final.
"I'm very pleased to have defended the world title in Tokyo," the Tokyo 2020 poster girl told reporters

Majlinda KELMENDI

Featured

Judo legend Majlinda Kelmendi exclusive: Rise of female coaches is very inspiring

Ten things we learned from the 2019 judo world championships

Majlinda Kelmendi: "This is why I keep winning"

Olympic Results