Albania at the Olympics

Sporting event delegation

Albania at the
Olympics

IOC code| ALB
NOC| Albanian National Olympic Committee
Website| nocalbania.org.al (in Albanian)
Medals|

Gold

Silver

Bronze

Total

Summer appearances

* 1972
* 1976–1988
* 1992
* 1996
* 2000
* 2004
* 2008
* 2012
* 2016
* 2020
* 2024

Winter appearances

* 2006
* 2010
* 2014
* 2018
* 2022

Albania first participated at the Summer Olympic Games in 1972. They missed the next four games, three of them for political reasons due to the 1980 Summer Olympics boycott, 1984 Summer Olympics boycott and 1988 boycotts, but returned for the Barcelona 1992 Summer Olympics. They have appeared in all games since then. They made their Winter Olympic Games debut in 2006.[1] Albania normally competes in events that include swimming, athletics, weightlifting, shooting, and wrestling. The country has not yet won any Olympic medal. Along with Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Malta and Monaco, Albania is one of five current European participants that have never won an Olympic medal. They have been represented by the Albanian National Olympic Committee since 1972.

## History[edit]

In their Pre-Olympic History Albania participated in Olympic qualifying for the first time in 1964. The Albanians faced Bulgaria in the opening round, losing both matches 1–0 and failing to qualify for the next round.[2] It wasn't until the 1972 Summer Olympics held in Munich that Albania made another attempt to qualify. Facing Romania in the opening round, they lost both legs 2–1, despite goals from Medin Zhega and Panajot Pano, respectively. It is to this day Albania's last participation for an Olympic Football Tournament so far.[3]

Albania first officially competed at the Munich 1972 Summer Olympics with five participants over two events; Fatos Pilkati and Afërdita Tusha in the mixed 50 metre free pistol, Ismail Rama and Beqir Kosova in the mixed 50 metre rifle, prone, and Ymer Pampuri in the men's 60 kg weightlifting.[4] who in the 1972 Summer Olympic Games became the first Albanian to break an Olympic record, in military press, since the discipline was no longer allowed to be practiced internationally after 1972[5] In the 1992 Barcelona Summer Olympics: Alma Qeramixhi competed in the heptathlon; Kristo Robo in the 25 metre rapid fire pistol; Enkelejda Shehu in the 25 metre pistol; Frank Leskaj in the 50 metre freestyle, 100 metre freestyle, and 100 metre breaststroke; Sokol Bishanaku and Fatmir Bushi in the under 67.5 kg weightlifting; and Dede Dekaj in the under 110 kg weightlifting.[6] For the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Albania had seven athletes--4 female and 3 male. Mirela Manjani were the flag bearer for the Olympic Games in that year.[7] At the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Albania's delegation consisted of two male and two female athletes.[8] They had seven competitors (two female, five male) in the Athens 2004 Summer Olympics.[9] In Beijing at the 2008 Summer Olympics, the nation had eleven athletes (four female and seven male).[10] For the London 2012 Summer Olympics, Albania had nine athletes consisting of three women and six men.[11] Romela Begaj the flag bearer for Albania at the 2012 Summer Olympics would compete in Weightlifting at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's 58 kg category finishing in 9th at the end, after lifting 216 kg in total. Briken Calja would achieve the best result for Albania at the 2012 Summer Olympics in which he would finish 6th in Weightlifting at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Men's 69 kg after lifting 320 kg.

Briken Calja competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in the 69kg division where he finished in 5th place after lifting 326 kg.[12] Briken Calja would compete at the following 2020 Summer Olympics in the 73kg division. The European Weightlifting champion in 2018 would finish in 4th after lifting.[13] It would be the best result in the History for Albania at the Summer Olympics.

In the 2020 Summer Olympics Luiza Gega wrote history for Albania. As she would be the first athlete from Albania, to qualify for the finals in Athletics at the Summer Olympics. After she finished 5th in Athletics at the 2020 Summer Olympics – Women's 3000 metres steeplechase with a time of 9:23.85 in the end enough to progress to the finals.[14] At the final run, she would finish in 13th.

As of 2024[update] Albania has no Olympic medalists.

## Medalists from Albania at the Olympic Games[edit]

Albania remains without a medal win, although Albanians competing for different nations would win medals in other Olympic Games:[15]

* Mirela Manjani competed for Albania at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, but chose to represent Greece in Javelin throw at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, winning silver, as well as bronze at the 2004 Games.[16]
* Kosovo Albanian Luan Krasniqi who is born in Junik won the bronze medal representing Germany at Heavyweight boxing in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.[17]
* Fatmire Alushi born in Istog from Kosovo winning for the Germany women's national football team the bronze medal in Football at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.[18] She is also the first Kosovo Albanian women to win a medal in Football at the Summer Olympics.
* Kosovare Asllani with Kosovo Albanian descent competed for Sweden at the Summer Olympics in Football. She would win twice silver first in 2016[19] and in the following Women's tournament in Tokyo 2020.[20] She is the first Kosovo Albanian female to win silver medals in Football at the Summer Olympics for her Country.
* Majlinda Kelmendi a Judoka born in Peja, Kosovo. She would compete for Albania at the 2012 Summer Olympics in Judo. Majlinda would choose Kosovo at the 2016 Summer Olympics in which she would win Gold in Judo at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Women's 52 kg after beating Odette Giuffrida in the final, to win Kosovo's first ever medal at the Summer Olympics.[21]
* Distria Krasniqi is a Judoka from Kosovo but with Albanian ethnicity, who competed for Kosovo at the 2020 Summer Olympics. She would compete in Judo at the 2020 Summer Olympics – Women's 48 kg category. In the finals she would beat Funa Tonaki to win the second gold medal ever for Kosovo.[22]
* Nora Gjakova is a Judoka from Kosovo. She would make her debut in Judo at the 2020 Summer Olympics – Women's 57 kg in which she would Gold in the finals against Sarah-Léonie Cysique to secure the final Medal for Kosovo at the 2020 Summer Olympics held in Tokio.[23]

There were plenty of ethnic Albanians who did compete for Yugoslavia at the Summer Olympics and would win medals in various sport competitions as well:

* Shaban Tërstena was an Albanian wrestler who represented Yugoslavia at the 1984 Summer Olympics and 1988 Summer Olympics. He won the gold medal at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles and also won the silver medal at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul.[24][25] Being the most successful Wrestler for Yugoslavia, at the Summer Olympics. He was also declared the best athlete of Yugoslavia in 1984 being the second ethnic Albanian to achieve this feet, after Sejdiu did in 1977.[26]
* Aziz Salihu competing in boxing for Yugoslavia at the 1984 Summer Olympics winning the bronze medal in Super heavyweight.
* Shaban Sejdiu is an Albanian Wrestler who competed for Yugoslavia in the Olympics. He would win twice Bronze in the Summer Olympics. First at the 1980 Summer Olympics held in Moscow. He would win again Bronze at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Being the first ethnic Albanian to win multiple medals, for Yugoslavia at the Olympics.

In total the Albanian athletes winning 14 Medals at the Summer Olympics in which of them being four gold, two silver and six bronze medals in various sports competitions, for several different countries, in the history.

## Medal tables[edit]

See also: All-time Olympic Games medal table

### Medals by Summer Olympics[edit]

| Games  | Athletes  | Gold  | Silver  | Bronze  | Total  | Rank

|
|
|
|
|
|

1972 Munich | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | –
1976–1988 | did not participate
1992 Barcelona | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | –
1996 Atlanta | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | –
2000 Sydney | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | –
2004 Athens | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | –
2008 Beijing | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | –
2012 London | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | –
2016 Rio de Janeiro | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | –
2020 Tokyo | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | –
2024 Paris | future event
2028 Los Angeles
2032 Brisbane
Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | –

### Medals by Winter Olympics[edit]

Albania's delegation at the 2010 Winter Games | Games  | Athletes  | Gold  | Silver  | Bronze  | Total  | Rank

|
|
|
|
|
|

2006 Turin | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | –
2010 Vancouver | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | –
2014 Sochi | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | –
2018 Pyeongchang | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | –
2022 Beijing | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | –
2026 Milan–Cortina | future event
Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | –

## Flagbearers[edit]

See also: List of flag bearers for Albania at the Olympics

Summer Olympics  | Games  | Athlete  | Sport

|
|

1972 Munich[4] | Afërdita Tusha | Shooting
1992 Barcelona[6] | Kristo Robo | Shooting
1996 Atlanta[7] | Mirela Maniani | Athletics
2000 Sydney[8] | Ilirjan Suli | Weightlifting
2004 Athens[9] | Klodiana Shala | Athletics
2008 Beijing[10] | Sahit Prizreni | Freestyle wrestling
2012 London[11] | Romela Begaj | Weightlifting
2016 Rio de Janeiro | Luiza Gega | Athletics
2020 Tokyo | Luiza Gega
Briken Calja | Athletics
Weightlifting
Winter Olympics  | Games  | Athlete  | Sport

|
|

2006 Turin[1] | Erjon Tola | Alpine skiing
2010 Vancouver
2014 Sochi
2018 Pyeongchang | Suela Mehilli

## See also[edit]

* Sports in Albania
* Albania at the Mediterranean Games
* List of participating nations at the Summer Olympic Games
* List of participating nations at the Winter Olympic Games
* Category:Olympic competitors for Albania
* Albania at the Paralympics

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b "Albania at the 2006 Winter Olympics". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
2. ^ "Besnik Dizdari: E vërteta e pjesëmarrjes së Shqipërisë në Lojërat Olimpike".
3. ^ "Games of the XX. Olympiad - Football Qualifying Tournament".
4. ^ a b "Albania at the 1972 Summer Olympics". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
5. ^ "Rekordmeni olimpik Ymer Pampuri i rikthehet peshëngritjes :: Shpirti i Shqiptarit :: Shqiptare te bashkuar per nje Shqiperi te bashkuar !".
6. ^ a b "Albania at the 1992 Summer Olympics". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
7. ^ a b "Albania at the 1996 Summer Olympics". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
8. ^ a b "Albania at the 2000 Summer Olympics". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
9. ^ a b "Albania at the 2004 Summer Olympics". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
10. ^ a b "Albania at the 2008 Summer Olympics". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
11. ^ a b "Albania at the 2012 Summer Olympics". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
12. ^ "Rio 2016". Rio 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-08-26. Retrieved 2016-08-31.
13. ^ "Briken Calja humb për vetëm 1 kg medaljen e bronztë".
14. ^ "Atletja shqiptare, Luiza Gega kalon në finale të Lojërave Olimpike". August 2021.
15. ^ "Shaban Tërstena, i pari shqiptar kampion olimpik dhe ndjenja e lartë e kombësisë".
16. ^ "Είχα στα μάτια μου τη σημαία". 30 August 1999.
17. ^ "Interview: Luan Krasniqi, Cisse Salif and Raphael Zumbano". 11 November 2008. Archived from the original on 29 November 2021. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
18. ^ "Women's Olympic Football Tournament Beijing 2008".
19. ^ "Gjermania fiton medaljen e artë në futboll, Kosovare Asllani 'kënaqet' me të argjendtën (Foto)". 20 August 2016.
20. ^ "Kosovare Asllani fiton medaljen e argjendtë". 6 August 2021.
21. ^ "Majlinda Kelmendi wins Kosovo's first ever gold medal". 7 August 2016.
22. ^ "Kosovo's Distria Krasniqi wins historic gold in Tokyo, marking the country's second-ever Olympic medal". 29 July 2021.
23. ^ "Gjakova wins judo gold amid mourning in Kosovo". 26 July 2021.
24. ^ Singh, H (2004). 33 Olympic Games. Discovery Publishing House. ISBN 9788171417643.
25. ^ Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill (2011). Historical Dictionary of the Olympic Movement. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-7249-3.
26. ^ "Shaban Tërstena, i pari shqiptar kampion olimpik dhe ndjenja e lartë e kombësisë".

## External links[edit]

* "Albania". International Olympic Committee. 16 September 2021.
* "Albania". Olympedia.com.
* "Olympic Analytics/ALB". olympanalyt.com.

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