Albania at the Olympics

Albania first joined the Summer Olympic Games in 1972. After that, they did not take part in the next four Olympics because of political reasons, including the 1980 Summer Olympics boycott, 1984 Summer Olympics boycott, 1988 Summer Olympics boycott, and because Albania was very isolated at the time. Albania came back to compete in the Barcelona 1992 Summer Olympics and has been part of every Olympics since then. Albania also began taking part in the Winter Olympic Games in 2006.

Albania usually competes in sports such as swimming, athletics, weightlifting, shooting, and wrestling. The country has been represented by the Albanian National Olympic Committee since 1972.

Albania won its first Olympic medals at the 2024 Summer Olympics. On August 10, 2024, Chermen Valiev won a bronze medal in the men's freestyle 74 kg. The next day, August 11, 2024, Islam Dudaev won another bronze medal in the men's freestyle 65 kg. These were Albania’s first ever Olympic medals.

History

Albania first joined the Summer Olympics in 1972 at Munich with five athletes in different events. One of them, Ymer Pampuri, set an Olympic record in weightlifting by lifting 127.5 kg.

After that, Albania did not take part in the next few Olympics due to political reasons. The country returned in 1992 at Barcelona and has been part of every Summer Olympics since then.

Over the years, Albania sent athletes to many Olympics. In 2024 in Paris, Albania won its first Olympic medals. Two athletes born in Russia but competing for Albania, Chermen Valiev and Islam Dudaev, won bronze medals in wrestling.

Albanian international medalists

Mirela Manjani competed for Albania in the women's javelin throw at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. Later, she competed for Greece and won medals in the 2000 and 2004 Olympics. Majlinda Kelmendi competed for Albania in judo at the 2012 Olympics. She later won a gold medal for Kosovo at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Medal tables

See also: All-time Olympic Games medal table

List of medalists

Medal	Name	Games	Sport	Event
Bronze	Chermen Valiev	2024 Paris	Wrestling	Men's freestyle 74 kg
Bronze	Islam Dudaev	2024 Paris	Wrestling	Men's freestyle 65 kg

Flagbearers

See also: List of flag bearers for Albania at the Olympics