Albania at the Olympics

Albania at the
Olympics
Albania at the; Olympics
IOC code	ALB
NOC	Albanian National Olympic Committee
Website	nocalbania.org.al (in Albanian)
Medals	Gold 1 Silver 0 Bronze 0 Total 1
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. During this year they won a gold medal in the weightlifting competition. The weightlifter being Ymer Pampuri. Ymer Pampuri was the man who broke the record by weightlifting 127,5kg. After that, Albania 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 won only one golden metal from 1972. They have been represented by the Albanian National Olympic Committee since 1972.

History

In their Pre-Olympic History Albania participated in Olympic Football 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]

The men's national basketball team tried twice to qualify at the Summer Olympics in basketball. As they participate in two Pre-Olympic Basketball Tournaments. First in the qualifying in 1972. They had three matches, losing all but had two close encounters one against Belgium with 83–82 and the other one being against the Netherlands with 84–81 missing so out to the Final Round.Being also Albania's best ever Olympic Qualification attempt in their Basketball History.^[4] ^[5]^[6]

Their following participation came 20 years later in 1992 in the 1992 Pre-Olympic Basketball Tournament. They competed in Group A. The Albanians securing their first win at this competition against Switzerland 84–85 as it was their only win in their campaign. Albania had close loses against Italy 73–87 and Latvia with 78–94 despite that Albania failed to qualify for the playoffs stage, with an 5th-place finish.^[7] It is so far the last time that Albania participated in an Olympic Team sport discipline in their entire summer olympics history so far. ^[8]

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.^[9] 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^[10] 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.^[11] 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.^[12] At the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Albania's delegation consisted of two male and two female athletes.^[13] They had seven competitors (two female, five male) in the Athens 2004 Summer Olympics.^[14] In Beijing at the 2008 Summer Olympics, the nation had eleven athletes (four female and seven male).^[15] For the London 2012 Summer Olympics, Albania had nine athletes consisting of three women and six men.^[16] 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.^[17] 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.^[18] 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.^[19] 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

Albania remains without a medal win, although Albanians competing for different nations would win medals in other Olympic Games:^[20]

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.^[21]
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.^[22]
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.^[23] 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^[24] and in the following Women's tournament in Tokyo 2020.^[25] 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.^[26]
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.^[27]
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.^[28]

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.^[29]^[30] 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.^[31]
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

Medals by Summer Olympics

Total		0	0	0	0	–
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

Medals by Winter Olympics

Total		0	0	0	0	–
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

Flagbearers

Summer Olympics
Games	Athlete	Sport
1972 Munich^[9]	Afërdita Tusha	Shooting
1992 Barcelona^[11]	Kristo Robo	Shooting
1996 Atlanta^[12]	Mirela Maniani	Athletics
2000 Sydney^[13]	Ilirjan Suli	Weightlifting
2004 Athens^[14]	Klodiana Shala	Athletics
2008 Beijing^[15]	Sahit Prizreni	Freestyle wrestling
2012 London^[16]	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

References

^ ^a ^b "Albania at the 2006 Winter Olympics". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
^ "Besnik Dizdari: E vërteta e pjesëmarrjes së Shqipërisë në Lojërat Olimpike".
^ "Games of the XX. Olympiad – Football Qualifying Tournament".
^ http://www.linguasport.com/baloncesto/internacional/olimpiadas/1972_MUNICH_PR.htm
^ Draper, Kevin (7 December 2017). "Fewer Russians Could Be a Windfall for U.S. Olympic Business". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 8 December 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
^ "FIBA.basketball".
^ "Olympic Basketball Tournament 1992 (Qualifying Stage)". www.linguasport.com. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
^ http://www.panorama.com.al/sport/besnik-dizdari-e-verteta-e-pjesemarrjes-se-shqiperise-ne-lojerat-olimpike/#gsc.tab=0
^ ^a ^b "Albania at the 1972 Summer Olympics". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
^ "Rekordmeni olimpik Ymer Pampuri i rikthehet peshëngritjes :: Shpirti i Shqiptarit :: Shqiptare te bashkuar per nje Shqiperi te bashkuar !".
^ ^a ^b "Albania at the 1992 Summer Olympics". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
^ ^a ^b "Albania at the 1996 Summer Olympics". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
^ ^a ^b "Albania at the 2000 Summer Olympics". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
^ ^a ^b "Albania at the 2004 Summer Olympics". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
^ ^a ^b "Albania at the 2008 Summer Olympics". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
^ ^a ^b "Albania at the 2012 Summer Olympics". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
^ "Rio 2016". Rio 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-08-26. Retrieved 2016-08-31.
^ "Briken Calja humb për vetëm 1 kg medaljen e bronztë".
^ "Atletja shqiptare, Luiza Gega kalon në finale të Lojërave Olimpike". August 2021.
^ "Shaban Tërstena, i pari shqiptar kampion olimpik dhe ndjenja e lartë e kombësisë".
^ "Είχα στα μάτια μου τη σημαία". 30 August 1999.
^ "Interview: Luan Krasniqi, Cisse Salif and Raphael Zumbano". 11 November 2008. Archived from the original on 29 November 2021. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
^ "Women's Olympic Football Tournament Beijing 2008".
^ "Gjermania fiton medaljen e artë në futboll, Kosovare Asllani 'kënaqet' me të argjendtën (Foto)". 20 August 2016.
^ "Kosovare Asllani fiton medaljen e argjendtë". 6 August 2021.
^ "Majlinda Kelmendi wins Kosovo's first ever gold medal". 7 August 2016.
^ "Kosovo's Distria Krasniqi wins historic gold in Tokyo, marking the country's second-ever Olympic medal". 29 July 2021.
^ "Gjakova wins judo gold amid mourning in Kosovo". 26 July 2021.
^ Singh, H (2004). 33 Olympic Games. Discovery Publishing House. ISBN 9788171417643.
^ Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill (2011). Historical Dictionary of the Olympic Movement. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-7249-3.
^ "Shaban Tërstena, i pari shqiptar kampion olimpik dhe ndjenja e lartë e kombësisë".

External links

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

[O2006-1] "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] ttp://www.linguasport.com/baloncesto/internacional/olimpiadas/1972_MUNICH_PR.htm

[auto-5] Draper, Kevin (7 December 2017). "Fewer Russians Could Be a Windfall for U.S. Olympic Business". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 8 December 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2018.

[6] "FIBA.basketball".

[7] "Olympic Basketball Tournament 1992 (Qualifying Stage)". www.linguasport.com. Retrieved 26 November 2023.

[8] ttp://www.panorama.com.al/sport/besnik-dizdari-e-verteta-e-pjesemarrjes-se-shqiperise-ne-lojerat-olimpike/#gsc.tab=0

[O1972-9] "Albania at the 1972 Summer Olympics". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2015.

[10] "Rekordmeni olimpik Ymer Pampuri i rikthehet peshëngritjes :: Shpirti i Shqiptarit :: Shqiptare te bashkuar per nje Shqiperi te bashkuar !".

[O1992-11] "Albania at the 1992 Summer Olympics". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2015.

[O1996-12] "Albania at the 1996 Summer Olympics". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2015.

[O2000-13] "Albania at the 2000 Summer Olympics". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2015.

[O2004-14] "Albania at the 2004 Summer Olympics". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2015.

[O2008-15] "Albania at the 2008 Summer Olympics". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2015.

[O2012-16] "Albania at the 2012 Summer Olympics". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2015.

[17] "Rio 2016". Rio 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-08-26. Retrieved 2016-08-31.

[18] "Briken Calja humb për vetëm 1 kg medaljen e bronztë".

[19] "Atletja shqiptare, Luiza Gega kalon në finale të Lojërave Olimpike". August 2021.

[20] "Shaban Tërstena, i pari shqiptar kampion olimpik dhe ndjenja e lartë e kombësisë".

[21] "Είχα στα μάτια μου τη σημαία". 30 August 1999.

[22] "Interview: Luan Krasniqi, Cisse Salif and Raphael Zumbano". 11 November 2008. Archived from the original on 29 November 2021. Retrieved 29 November 2021.

[23] "Women's Olympic Football Tournament Beijing 2008".

[24] "Gjermania fiton medaljen e artë në futboll, Kosovare Asllani 'kënaqet' me të argjendtën (Foto)". 20 August 2016.

[25] "Kosovare Asllani fiton medaljen e argjendtë". 6 August 2021.

[26] "Majlinda Kelmendi wins Kosovo's first ever gold medal". 7 August 2016.

[27] "Kosovo's Distria Krasniqi wins historic gold in Tokyo, marking the country's second-ever Olympic medal". 29 July 2021.

[28] "Gjakova wins judo gold amid mourning in Kosovo". 26 July 2021.

[29] Singh, H (2004). 33 Olympic Games. Discovery Publishing House. ISBN 9788171417643.

[30] Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill (2011). Historical Dictionary of the Olympic Movement. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-7249-3.

[31] "Shaban Tërstena, i pari shqiptar kampion olimpik dhe ndjenja e lartë e kombësisë".

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Albania at the Olympics

History

Medalists from Albania at the Olympic Games

Medal tables

Medals by Summer Olympics

Medals by Winter Olympics

Flagbearers

See also

References

External links

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