On this day, Kosova witnessed another historic moment in its sporting chronicles as judoka Nora Gjakova ascended to the top of the podium at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Gjakova secured her place in Kosovar sporting history, earning gold in the women’s under-57 kg judo competition. She stood as the third judoka from Kosova to capture an Olympic medal, further validating the nation’s prominence in this martial art discipline.

In a grueling but triumphant journey to the finals, Gjakova overcame formidable opponents. She commenced her march to the medal by defeating Sanne Verhagen of the Netherlands in the round of 16, followed by Slovenian contender Kaja Kajzer in the quarter-finals.

The semi-final match presented a stern test, pitting her against the Japanese number 2 seed and former world champion, Tsukasa Yoshida. Despite a record of previous losses to Yoshida, Gjakova turned the tables in Tokyo. With her unwavering resilience, she held Yoshida to the mat, securing a waza-ari victory in the golden score.

In the showdown, Gjakova proved her mettle against France’s Sarah Leonie Cysique, clinching the gold medal that etched her name in Kosova’s sports annals.

Reflecting on her victory, Gjakova acknowledged the contribution of her compatriots, saying, “It was not the most beautiful contest, but the most important was to win. I want to thank Majlinda. She started the path, she supported all of us. Without her, Distria’s gold and my gold would have never happened.” This triumph was not just a personal accomplishment for Gjakova, but a tribute to the collective spirit and dedication of Kosovar athletes.