Akil Gjakova reacts after missing out on a medal: This time I went without a medal, but I will never stop until I achieve it

Kosovo judoka Akil Gjakova has shared a lengthy reaction on Facebook about what happened to him at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Gjakova put in an extraordinary performance but unfortunately went without a medal.

He said bad luck kept him from winning a medal, but he will never stop until he achieves this.

Akil Gjakova’s full reaction:

The “Paris 2024” Olympic Games have also come to an end. Unfortunately, bad luck also took away the chance to win an Olympic medal. A medal that has never been closer to me than it was now, but sporting fortune took it from my hands. Nevertheless, it did not take away my dream of one day winning this medal, which is my lifelong goal.

I began training in judo in 2002, with my coach Driton Kuka. From then until today, I have done everything in my power to get here. Naturally, I have been fortunate to have the best coach in the world by my side. I dedicate all my achievements to him, my family, my city and the Republic of Kosovo.

I have given everything to judo: my time, focus, dedication, sacrifice and commitment. But judo has also given me a lot, though not enough. I still have work to do.

To be an athlete at this level, first and foremost, you have to be a person of true character, with great discipline, a strict routine and a very high level of culture. Then the work begins, and the achievements follow. Reaching this level is not easy at all, because it makes me the most competitive athlete in the Republic of Kosovo!

A judoka starts the day at 05:00 for morning training. Then they return home and finish their carefully selected meal. They sleep for just a few minutes before preparing for the next training session. And so on. All this without ever knowing what conditions, external factors and unforeseen circumstances lie ahead: injuries, illnesses, problems and other issues that surround us as life’s challenges.

I have achieved successes that have made a real impact on sport in Kosovo. I am European champion (U18). I am European champion (U23—Gyor 2018). European champion (Lisbon 2021). I won gold at the Mediterranean Games (Tarragona 2018). I also won gold at the Paris Grand Slam (2018). I have a gold medal at the Grand Prix. In addition to these achievements, I have also won many other bronze medals. At the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, I finished in 7th place, while at these Paris 2024 Games, after three consecutive wins, two of them by ippon, I lost in the semifinals to world champion Hidayat Heydarov, whom I defeated in Pristina in December 2023. These are my achievements, none of which were handed to me; they were earned through a sacrifice known only to me, my coach and my family.

I am proud to have represented my country and the Albanian nation at the world’s biggest sporting event. I am deeply proud of my people all over the world, who inspired and motivated me immensely with the messages they sent me. I was honored to represent you, and I am grateful for the unwavering support you gave me. Qualifying for the Olympics and taking part in Paris was not easy. Let alone competing against the world’s strongest athletes, but it has been an experience I will treasure, learn from and use to become even stronger for the competitions ahead.

One thing I am very sure of: I will work three times as hard so that at the next World Championships and the next Olympics I will be stronger in every aspect. I know that in sport, experience is paramount in competitions like the Olympics, but I know that by then I will have both. I will skillfully use Tokyo and Paris in my mind and my work to achieve the success for which I have sacrificed for all these 22 years without stopping for a moment. I am very confident that, with God’s help, I will do it. I believe that my sacrifice will be rewarded sooner or later, and I will do absolutely everything on my part to make it happen.

Until then, we have a lot of work ahead. To conclude this dedication to you, I have a few words for those who never stop giving me their unconditional support.

I sincerely thank my coach Toni. I thank the Judo Federation. I thank my country for its support. I thank my family and everyone who believed in me.

I will come back stronger!

Akil Gjakova