Though this was Majlinda Kelmendi’s second Olympics, it was a historical first for both her and Kosovo, the country she was representing: Kelmendi’s 52kg judo victory against Italy’s Odette Giufredda earned her Kosovo’s first-ever gold medal, CNN reports.
Kelmendi represented Albania four years ago in London where she did not medal (she did not place on Kosovo’s team after losing in the qualifying 52kg rounds), but she came into this Olympics as the world’s no. 1 judoka after winning two world titles and three European crowns since then. Not only did she win the country’s first gold medal, but she also was Kosovo’s flag bearer during the opening ceremony.
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 and was only recognized by the International Olympics Committee two years ago. Switching from the Albania team to the Kosovo one was not a difficult decision, Kelmendi told TIME after her victory: “We are the same people as Albania. So competing for them back then and for Kosovo means I have represented my people always.”
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