Kosovo's Majlinda Kelmendi receives the gold medal after winning the women's 52-kg judo competition at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, Aug. 7, 2016.

She was already the golden girl of judo – now Majlinda Kelmendi has the medal to go with it. Her gold at the Rio 2016 Olympics is Kosovo’s first of any type.

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 ...

Majlinda Kelmendi won Kosovo's first Olympic medal on Sunday, taking gold in the women's 52-kilogram judo division. The top-ranked Kelmendi, the young country's best-known athlete, ...

Four years ago at the 2012 London Olympics, Kelmendi competed under the Albanian flag. This year she was the flag bearer for Kosovo at the Parade of Nations during Friday night’s Opening ...

Item 1 of 5 Kosovar Judoka World Champion Majlinda Kelmendi prepares for the Tokyo Olympics with her teammates at the Ippon judo club in Peja, Kosovo, June 29, 2021. Picture taken June, 29, 2021 ...

If Kosovo fails to be affiliated to the body by 2012, Kelmendi will have to explore other options, like competing as an independent athlete for the IOC, which has happened in past games. As she takes ...

She was already the golden girl of judo – now Majlinda Kelmendi has the medal to go with it. Her gold at the Rio 2016 Olympics is Kosovo’s first of any type.