Kosovo Unveils Statue to First Olympic Gold Medalist Kelmendi

Kosovo Olympic gold medalist Majlinda Kelmendi on Friday attended the unveiling of a bronze statue of herself in judo kit in her hometown of Peje, about 50 miles west of the capital Pristina.

The 30-year-old judoka made history in the Rio 2016 Olympics when she became the first athlete from Kosovo to bring home a gold in the country's first-ever Olympic participation.

Parliament speaker Vjosa Osmani, who attended the rain-hit ceremony, recalled the moment Kelmendi wept when she won her Olympic gold - and the powerful impact that it had on her country. "Your tears turned into a strong diamond for all Kosovo citizens," Osmani said.

Kelmendi has more than 40 other medals in her sporting career since 2009, when she won a bronze in the European Cup in Prague.

Majlinda Kelmendi statue. Photo: Peja Mayor Gazmend Muhaxheri Facebook page

The statue was unveiled one day after she was awarded the best Kosovo athlete for 2019.

"I hope very much that this statue will motivate children in Kosovo and convince them that they can achieve success in their life, like I did. I started everything from this small place and reached the world peaks," Kelmendi, dressed in a pink suit, said, after unveiling her statue.

The President of the International Judo Federation, Marius Vizer, hailed Kelmendi as "one of greatest athletes in the world and one of the greatest judoka inside the judo family".

"Majlinda's result is the best inspiration for all of Kosovo sport, for the nation, and you can be proud that one of the best representatives of the sport in the world is the flag carrier of the nation," he said.

The President of the Kosovo Judo Federation, Agron Kuka, welcomed Vizer's support for the sport in Kosovo.

"As a judo...