In the city of Peja in Kosovo, younger generations have been training for quite some time, having Majlinda Kelmeni, who has been a gold medalist in Judo, as their model and hero.

The 30-year-old athlete has become an inspiration since she started to bring home international trophies. In 2016, she won the gold medal in the lightweight category at the Rio de Janerio Olympics.

Last year, a statue was raised in her honor by local government authorities and a new training center in the judo disciple is being built on a hill overlooking the entire city.

Driton Kuka, trainer of Kelmend, says that her achievement made the entire world get to know the country of around 1.8 million citizens.

“The champion of our teams, made the entire world turn their eyes on Kosovo and also made it possible for us to go to the Olympic Games,” said Kuka, Majlinda Kelmendi’s trainer.

Kelmendi says she had received many other offers from other nations, before Kosovo was allowed to participate in the games. But, – she said – the support received by citizens of Kosovo has much more value than the millions she could’ve won in another country.

“We knew that in Kosovo, we would never make the millions offered to us by other countries. But my trainer and I don’t regret out decision. The feelings I have lived racing for Kosovo is something money can’t buy,” said Majlinda Kelmendi, Olympic champion.

The Olympics Judo race will start on July 24^th in Tokyo, where Kelmendi will aim to keep her title and become world champion once again.

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