Meet the Kosovo Olympic Contenders, Rio 2016
Virtyt Gacaferri, Taulant Osmani
02/08/2016 – 05:40 PM
For the first time in the young country’s history, Kosovo’s athletes will compete in the Olympic games in Rio De Janeiro.
Win or lose, the eight young athletes who are representing the country will be part of a historic moment. Amongst them are gold-medal hopefuls, such as Majlinda Kelmendi who is currently the number one Judoka in the world, as well as younger athletes including Vijona Kryeziu, who until now has competed as a junior.
Majlinda Kelmendi
- DoB:May 9, 1991
- Sport:Judo
- Personal record:Judo World Champion
- World Rank:1st
What inspires and motivates you to train?
At the moment – the Olympic medal. It is the only medal that I do not have.
What Kosovo needs most:
Hope, commitment, and hard work. In terms of sports, I think that athletic results should somehow be connected to ranking within the Kosovo Security Forces, FSK, or police. This is a European practice that would motivate a lot of young people to do sports and to have a middle-class future in Kosovo.
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Nora Gjakova
- DoB:August 17, 1992
- Sport:Judo
- Personal record:Bronze medal in the European championship
- World Rank:18th
What inspires and motivates you to train?
A good performance in the Olympics.
What Kosovo needs most:
Professionalism and commitment in our work.
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Urata Rama
- DoB:December 20, 1986
- Sport:Shooting
- Personal record:409.4 points.
- World Rank:160th
What inspires and motivates you to train?
Like every athlete, my main motive is to represent my country with dignity.
What Kosovo needs most:
Sport infrastructure is in a very poor condition, especially for archery.
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Vijona Kryeziu
- DoB:October 8,1997
- Sport:Running
- Personal record:World norm for juniors in 400 meters (440 yards) – 54.64 seconds
- European ranking (Juniors):12th in 400 meters (440 yards)
Expectations from the Olympics:
My goal in the Olympics is to perform the best I can and to improve my personal result. Regarding medals, I think that it is still early for me because I am only 18, and it is very difficult to win a medal in ‘the Queen of Sports’ [athletics] at this age.
What inspires and motivates you to work and train:
The passion I have for sports, especially athletics, and also the support from my trainer and family.
What Kosovo needs most:
Infrastructure and institutional support for athletes.
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Lum Zhaveli
- DoB:March 5, 1990
- Sport:Swimming
- Personal record:24.21 seconds in a 50 meter (54 yard) freestyle swimming
Expectations from the Olympics:
Breaking the state [Kosovo] record and achieving the best possible personal success.
What inspires and motivates you to work and train:
Achieving maximum results in my sport and other goals in life.
What Kosovo needs most:
Staff, better conditions, commitment, professionalism and more opportunities for Kosovars.
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Rita Zeqiri
- DoB:December 8, 1995
- Sport:Swimming
- Personal record:33.30 seconds in 50 meter back swim
Expectations from the Olympics:
Improving my record.
What inspires and motivates you to work and train:
My inspiration and motive to train has changed during my 11-year-long career. My passion for contributing to Kosovo with what I do best has certainly dominated, while for the last two years after the opening of the new swimming pool, my sister Eda and the newly formed team became great inspirations to me. I am eagerly awaiting the 2020 Olympic games because the “Dream Team” of Kosovo swimming, the team that makes up the Step swimming club, is participating.
What Kosovo needs most:
As far as swimming goes, there is a lack of good trainers, and in general, a good team that can lead an athlete to the top, as is the case with Majlinda [Kelmendi] and her trainer Driton [Kuka].
Funds should be utilized for swimmers and to improve the quality of the sport. I understand that the financial means are not large but they are sufficient if they are spent strategically and in the common interests of clubs and athletes. The goals and activities should be discussed and defined in the beginning of the year.
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Musa Hajdari
- DoB:October 11, 1987
- Sport:Athletics
- Personal record:800 meters in 1.47.20
Expectations from the Olympics:
Improving my current result, Kosovo’s record, or any advance in the phases would be a great a success in itself considering the strong competition.
What inspires and motivates you to work and train:
The love that I have for sports in general and for athletics in particular. My local and international achievements after Kosovo’s independence, especially in the last five years, are a powerful drive for me.
What Kosovo needs most:
I think that Kosovo needs to be more unified than ever before, and show the world that we are also able to do great things. Only through sticking together will we make our dreams come true.
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Qëndrim Guri
- DoB:November, 27, 1993
- Sport:Cycling
- Personal record:Seven-time Kosovo champion. Four-time Athlete of the Year, selected by the Cycling Federation of Kosovo. Three-time Athlete of the Year in Ferizaj, winner of the cup on Albania’s 100th anniversary; winner of the Macedonian cup and participants in the European Olympics in Baku, Russia
Expectations from the Olympics:
Like every other athlete, I also expect the best result possible.
What inspires and motivates you to work and train:
My passion, will and desire to practice as much as possible and achieve the best results possible in cycling.
What Kosovo needs most:
To work with young athletes, discover as many talents as possible in all kinds of sports, and to achieve the best results possible in the region and internationally.
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