Golden Girl

For the girl from Peja, who had started handling the Judo sport at the age of 8, no one had thought she would become world champion and Olympic champion.

He is said to have done what politicians have not accomplished. It has raised and honoured Kosovo's flag in two countries that have not recognised it, Russia, at the World Championship in 2014, as well as in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, at the 2016 Olympic Games.

That's Majlinda Kelmendi. She rose and matured as a sportswoman, in the Judo club “In Pec, under difficult working conditions, Ipon” with the ambition to become the world's first in the jungle sport. At first this ambition, says Majlinda, for her peers, seemed only like a desire that might fade.

I've been around 11 or 12 years. We gave an interview to all the girls at the club and the question was “What do you want to be when you grow up? Most girls said Kosovo “champion”, “Balkan champion. And I said world champion. Since then, I've had great ambitions, and I've just felt that I'm going to achieve something in this sport<x5...

Majlinda's successes had begun in 2009 as a junior champion of Europe and the world. In 2013 she becomes a world champion, an adult. Majlinda next follows the dream toward the Olympics.

I think in 2013 there were no Albanians in the world who did not hear the name of Majlinda Kelmendi and did not hear about my confession. Of course, the roof was at Olympic Games in Rio”.

I feel very good, especially in the states we participate in, which do not know Kosovo, there I am very motivated. I'm too determined to win, only because they try to ignore you, no matter how good you are. Maybe this isn't about sports, but it's about the state. So I'm very proud to have been able to raise the flag in Brazil, but especially in Russia”, she says.

Majlinda Kemendi has had rich offers from certain countries to represent them in world and Olympic competitions. As she says, such offers have been millions. But she rejected them, and she never repented of them.

Currently, Majlinda is being rehabilitated after the injury and operation. However, according to her, the expenses for post-operation treatment and rehabilitation have been covered by her pocket and coach Driton Kuka, because state aid has been under the limits of modest aid.

When Majlinda wins, all of Kosovo is standing. And now that Majlinda is hurt, it's an absolute silence. So when I think about these things, maybe for a moment, I can get discouraged. But I don't think much about this” stuff.

So as a person, maybe outside of the Judo sport, I'm soft, I'm sensitive. Maybe things that shouldn't be cared for make me feel bad. On the other hand, I'm very strong in character. The challenges he faced, not only in Judo but in general in life, make me stronger”, says Judder Kelmendi.

But who is Majlinda Kelmendi for the citizens of her native Pec? They speak in admiration of him.

Rukie Nimanaj says Majlinda has made all Kosovo citizens proud:

MIlinda Kelmendin, I see it as the pride of Kosovo. I see it as an example. I wish many other women were like her”.

Azem Isuf Murqi considers Majlinda a daughter of Kosovo:

MIlinda Kelmendi is the queen of Kosovo. He's got first place, we got the gold medal, first in Kosovo”.

Leonita Mulliq, named Majlinda as the value of the country:

It's a pride that has shown itself in many ways. It's worth us”.

Sadik Bytyci says Majlinda is an inspiration to other athletes:

For me, Mahlinda Kelmendi is queen of sports, in my opinion. It's inspiring to Kosovo athletes. I thank him for everything he's done.

Since Tyndale's name is also mentioned in the United Nations, it is no longer just sport for him. After the rehabilitation, she says she will again attack the arena of this sport.