Olympic Champion — Judo 57kg
Nora
Gjakova
Kosovo’s Golden Champion
Olympic gold medalist. 23 years of judo. A legacy for Kosovo.
“I feel deeply grateful for this beautiful journey… fulfilled by everything I have accomplished throughout these 23 years.”
Career Highlights
A legacy defined by discipline, resilience, and gold.
Olympic Gold Medal
Tokyo 2020
World Cup Medals
International Career
Years of Competition
2002–2025
2002
First Steps on the Mat
2016
Olympic Debut
2018
European Champion
2021
Olympic Gold
2024
Flag Bearer at Paris
2025
Retirement & Legacy
Highlights
Defining moments on the world's biggest stage.
Gold Medal Moment
Nora Gjakova wins Olympic gold in the women's 57kg judo final at Tokyo 2020.
Kosovo's Judo Story
How Majlinda Kelmendi's historic gold at Rio 2016 inspired a generation of Kosovar judokas, including Nora.
Kosovo's Golden Anthems
The gold medal moments and national anthem ceremonies for Kosovo's champions at Tokyo 2020.
A Golden Generation
Kosovo's remarkable judo legacy.
Kosovo has won every one of its Olympic medals in judo — all from a single club. The Ippon Judo Club in Peja, coached by Driton Kuka, produced three Olympic gold medalists in a training room once described as having “a leaky roof and worn carpets.”
Majlinda Kelmendi won Kosovo’s first-ever Olympic medal — gold at Rio 2016. Distria Krasniqi and Nora followed with two more golds at Tokyo 2020, making Kosovo the world’s most successful judo nation per capita.
The Next Chapter
From the mat to new horizons — coaching, speaking, and inspiring the next generation.