The International Judo Federation (IJF) has continued its series of articles on Olympic Judo champions. Finally, Majlinda Kelmendi, the first Olympic champion from Kosovo, was introduced. Majlinda won the gold medal in the category up to 52 kilograms in "Rio 2016". She is now working as a trainer in the technical staff of master Driton Kuka.
Majlinda is the 12th championship in a row presented by IJF. Earlier, among others, Nora Gjakova, the champion from "Tokyo 2020" in the category up to 57 kg, was also presented. The Olympic gold medal is the greatest achievement possible in sport.
Majlinda was asked if she became an Olympic champion because of her character, or if she became the person she is now after winning the Olympic gold.
"I think I became an Olympic champion because of my character. It sounds crazy and maybe even stupid, but I knew from the age of 12 that I was going to be the best in the world. At that time, Kosovo was not even a state. I worked really hard and as a 15-year-old, when I was a cadet, I fought in the seniors", said Majlinda for IJF.
She has continued to present amazing career.
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"In 2009, I became the world and European junior champion. The European in Armenia was my first competition of Kosovo as a country. Since then I have told myself 'I am the best in the world' and that I just have to show it. It took me another four years to win the senior medal, but in my head I was the best."
In 2013, Majlinda won the gold medal at the World Championships in Rio, Brazil. Thus, Majlinda's goals grew. She now aimed to be the best in all categories, not just the one up to 52 kg. He achieved this by taking first place in the world rankings in all categories.
"I know that I exercised like crazy and probably more than everyone else," says Majlinda Kelmendi.
In 2015 she was challenged by a serious health problem.
"I've won worlds, Europeans and everything else. But in 2015 I had a herniated disc and was told by the doctor that I have to stop or I will be paralyzed. My left hand was already blocked and so I had to decide whether to stop or go ahead and risk it all. I decided to continue, even though it could have had disastrous consequences. I had to move on. Physically I was bad, but mentally I was still strong. With my left hand not even at 50 percent of the level, I knew I had the other hand and I knew that the Olympic gold medal was there to be won by me", said Majlinda.
Majlinda also competed in Tokyo in 2021, but stopped in the first fight. He says that physically he was very good, but not mentally. He points out that things were quite different from the previous cycle. He says that with the condition he had in 2016, he knew that he could win the Olympic gold with just one hand.
"Since I was a child, I have had a winning mentality. I thought that if I can't knock them down, I can hit them or hold them, figuratively speaking. The coach has helped me to be like this. He has helped me believe in my abilities. I was eight years old when I started judo in Peja. I think the coach can make them a winner in your head. Coaches are very important for the athlete's mentality. For me it was the most important thing", said Majlinda.
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She also spoke about the challenges she faced as a Kosovo athlete.
"Coming from the country I'm from and being such a champion is something special. Maybe when I was very young, I just practiced and raced. I didn't have these big goals formulated. But my mentality was already there. We were not in the EJU, in the IOC, we were not a state. How was it possible to progress? Kuka has always told me that there is time and that we will make it. He was right."
When Majlinda started with results, the future seemed like a dream. But Kosovo is already in all organizations. She says she wouldn't forgive herself if she wasn't the first. He says that he sacrificed a lot to present Kosovo at the Olympic Games and that it was a great moment not only for sports, but for the country in general.
After "Rio 2016", Majlinda was mentally and physically tired and it became more and more difficult for her. There were multiple injuries. There was a lot of pressure and there was constant pain and stress.
"I didn't want to let anyone down in Tokyo and I thought maybe the long experience I have will do the job. But I think that if we are not well in our heads, then nothing can work", said Majlinda.
She says that she hasn't had a vacation with her family since she was 12 years old. Even after the world championships, he continued with judo after a week.
"I haven't enjoyed my career so much. Looking back, I think I should have enjoyed it more. I had a month off after the Olympics, but I'm back in two weeks. If the workout started at 10:00, I started at 8:30. I have overloaded my body. But I would do it all over again. I enjoyed the feeling when I couldn't catch my breath. It's hard to exercise, but even harder to lose. I never wanted to have that feeling."
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Majlinda emphasizes that the athlete must be stronger than his feelings to manage them. He says that even Olympic champions have stress.
"From the outside I looked like a robot, but inside we all have these feelings. Maybe it was my winning mentality that always sent me money. It's about who I was, who I still am."
