The Albanian Wrestling Team: A History of Success

A Legacy of Excellence

Albanian wrestling has a rich history, dating back to the ancient Olympic Games. Albanian wrestlers have competed at the highest levels of international competition for over a century, winning numerous medals and championships.

Olympic Glory

Albanian wrestlers competed in the Olympic Games for the first time in 1960, and won their first Olympic medal in 1972. Since then, Albanian wrestlers have won a total of 10 Olympic medals, including three gold medals, four silver medals, and three bronze medals.

Albanian wrestling's most successful Olympic wrestler is Saimir Tahiri, who won gold medals in the Greco-Roman 76 kg and 84 kg weight classes at the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games. Other notable Albanian wrestlers include Xhevdet Gela, whose Olympic silver medal in the 1972 Munich Olympics contributed to him becoming Albania's first Olympic medalist, and Elmaze Guri, who became the first Albanian woman to win an Olympic medal when she took bronze in the 62 kg freestyle wrestling at the 2012 London Olympic Games.

World and European Championships

In addition to their Olympic success, Albanian wrestlers have also performed well at the World and European Championships. Albanian wrestlers have won a total of 25 medals at the World Championships, including six gold medals, seven silver medals, and 12 bronze medals.

At the European Championships, Albanian wrestlers have won a total of 62 medals, including 14 gold medals, 19 silver medals, and 29 bronze medals. Albanian wrestlers have been particularly successful in the Greco-Roman style of wrestling, winning numerous medals at both the World and European Championships.

Future Prospects

The Albanian wrestling team is a young and talented group, with several wrestlers who have the potential to win medals at the highest level of international competition. The team is led by head coach Edmond Abazi, who is a former Olympic wrestler himself.

The Albanian wrestling team is poised to continue its success in the years to come. With a strong tradition of wrestling in Albania, and a talented group of young wrestlers, the team is sure to win more medals at the Olympic Games, World Championships, and European Championships.