Well done, Laura – Kosovo’s fifth Olympic medal arrives

Kosovo now has five Olympic medals. Yes, yes, five. And that in just three editions of the Olympic Games, by far the biggest global sporting event.

The sport?

No question.

Judo.

Laura Fazliu secured the country’s fifth medal. She won bronze in the under-63-kilogram category. On Tuesday, Laura competed at the “Champ de Mars Arena” in Paris. In front of more than 8,000 spectators, she started slowly but finished with an Olympic medal. It is by far the greatest achievement of the 23-year-old’s career to date.

For the bronze medal, Laura defeated Croatia’s Katarina Krishto.

Laura was the third seed and therefore had a bye in the first round. In the second round, she defeated China’s Jing Tang after a very tough contest. The bout was decided by penalties. In extra time, the Chinese judoka received her third penalty, and the Ippon victory went to Laura.

In the quarterfinal, Laura faced judo legend Clarisse Agbegnenou of France. She had beaten her twice before, but it had long been clear that this would be a tough fight. Clarisse was an Olympic champion and is a six-time world champion. She is one of the biggest names in the history of judo.

Laura began with a good attack. But she lacked caution, and Clarisse scored an Ippon throw after just 34 seconds.

The defeat was a shock, but not an insurmountable one.

In the first repechage bout, Laura was very confident against Canada’s Catherinë Beauchemin-Pinard. She took the initiative, but the Canadian, the second seed, also showed a high level. The bout went into extra time. Twenty-six seconds after extra time began, Laura scored a waza-ari throw.

Laura’s medal is Kosovo’s second at the “Paris 2024” Olympic Games. On Sunday, Distria Krasniqi won silver in the under-52-kilogram category. On Monday, Akil Gjakova placed fifth in the under-73-kilogram category.

At the Olympics, Laura has been accompanied in the coaches’ corner by Majlinda Kelmendi, now an important member of head coach Driton Kuka’s technical staff.

Majlinda won Kosovo’s first Olympic medal – gold in Rio 2016. In Tokyo 2020, Distria Krasniqi and Nora Gjakova won gold medals. The collection now includes Olympic medals of all three colors.

And so it is confirmed and reaffirmed what was already known – head coach Driton Kuka’s team belongs at the highest level of world sport.