Majlinda Kelmendi put Kosovo on the medal board for the first time in its history on Sunday (7 August), after winning gold in the women’s judo -52kg weight class.

Kelmendi was guaranteed a silver medal when she beat Misato Nakamura of Japan in the semi-finals. In the final match, against Odette Giuffrida of Italy, Kelmendi scored an early point, but conceded a penalty for being too defensive. As the match drew to a close she skirted the line with delay tactics, but ultimately prevailed to earn the gold.

After her victory was announced, Kelmendi hugged Giuffrida and then walked off the mat in tears. Wearing a blue uniform that matched some of the Kosovo flags being waved in the arena, a teary Kelmendi waved to the crowd and raised her arms in victory. Nakamura took one of the bronze medals, while Natalia Kuziutina of Russia earned the other bronze.

The 25-year-old carry her country’s flag at the Rio 2016 opening ceremony and told told CNN in an interview last year about the significance of wearing ‘KOS’ at the Olympic Games. “I have dreamed of this for a long time and finally it is coming.”

The two-time world champion hails from the small city of Peja and represented Albania at London 2012, just after the International Judo Federation recognised Kosovo in the spring of that year.