Coach Driton Kuka praises Majlinda Kelmendi despite loss

On Saturday there were tears of joy in the eyes of the Kosovan camp, they were tinged with sadness on Sunday, with the exit in the first round of the reigning Olympic Champion, Majlinda Kelmendi. European and World champion and above all the first Olympic gold medallist in the history of her young country, Majlinda is a true heroine of sport.

Joined by her compatriot Distria Krasniqi at the top of the Olympic Pantheon yesterday, since Rio, Majlinda has never quite regained her level of that time. Seeded number 4 in the competition, she still hoped to recover in Tokyo, but that was without taking into account the performance of the Hungarian Reka Pupp who in the first round ruined all the hopes of the Olympic champion. Majlinda took a long time to leave the tatami because she probably knew that this was one of her last appearances at this level. The life of a top athlete is complicated and sometimes painful, both mentally and physically.

In 2012 in London, Kelmendi was quickly eliminated in the first rounds, but four years later she came back as the winner. Today fate is once again less accommodating. All of this happened in less than ten years. It is ultimately little, but for a competitor of the caliber of the Kosovan, it is an eternity dedicated to judo, sport and the influence of her country.

Driton Kuka, her coach, explained a few minutes later, "Majlinda, thank you for life! You will forever be Olympic, world and European champion! Don't be sad today. All the work and sacrifice, sweat and blood that you have paid for yourself, for me, our families, for all our people, have rewarded you during your career. Do not be sad because the gold of Distria is that of all of our team. Don't be sad today please. Keep your head up because you have given us so much joy! I will remain proud of you until my last breath."