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[[Albania]] first participated at the Summer [[Olympic Games]] in [[1972 Summer Olympics|1972]]. After that, Albania missed the next four games, three of them for political reasons due to the [[1980 Summer Olympics boycott]], [[1984 Summer Olympics boycott]] and 1988 boycotts, but returned for the Barcelona [[1992 Summer Olympics]]. They have appeared in all games since then. They made their [[Winter Olympic Games]] debut in 2006.<ref name="O2006">{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/countries/ALB/winter/2006/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417093515/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/countries/ALB/winter/2006/|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 April 2020|title=Albania at the 2006 Winter Olympics|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=7 August 2015}}</ref> Albania normally competes in events that include [[Swimming (sport)|swimming]], [[sport of athletics|athletics]], [[Olympic weightlifting|weightlifting]], [[shooting sports|shooting]], and [[amateur wrestling|wrestling]]. They have been represented by the [[Albanian National Olympic Committee]] since 1972.
[[Albania]] first participated at the Summer [[Olympic Games]] in [[1972 Summer Olympics|1972]]. After that, Albania missed the next four games, three of them for political reasons due to the [[1980 Summer Olympics boycott]], [[1984 Summer Olympics boycott]] and 1988 boycotts, but returned for the Barcelona [[1992 Summer Olympics]]. They have appeared in all games since then. They made their [[Winter Olympic Games]] debut in 2006.<ref name="O2006">{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/countries/ALB/winter/2006/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417093515/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/countries/ALB/winter/2006/|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 April 2020|title=Albania at the 2006 Winter Olympics|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=7 August 2015}}</ref> Albania normally competes in events that include [[Swimming (sport)|swimming]], [[sport of athletics|athletics]], [[Olympic weightlifting|weightlifting]], [[shooting sports|shooting]], and [[amateur wrestling|wrestling]]. They have been represented by the [[Albanian National Olympic Committee]] since 1972.


Albania won its first ever Olympic medal when [[Chermen Valiev]] scored bronze in the [[Wrestling at the 2024 Summer Olympics – Men's freestyle 74 kg|men's freestyle 74 kg wrestling at the 2024 Summer Olympics]]. Its second medal came when [[Islam Dudaev]] scored bronze in [[Wrestling at the 2024 Summer Olympics – Men's freestyle 65 kg|men's freestyle 65 kg wrestling at the 2024 Summer Olympics]].
Albania won two bronze medals in wrestling at the [[2024 Summer Olympics]]. Its first ever Olympic medal came on 10 August 2024 when [[Chermen Valiev]] won bronze in the [[Wrestling at the 2024 Summer Olympics – Men's freestyle 74 kg|men's freestyle 74 kg]] and second medal came on 11 August 2024 when [[Islam Dudaev]] won bronze in the [[Wrestling at the 2024 Summer Olympics – Men's freestyle 65 kg|men's freestyle 65 kg]].

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== History ==
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In their Pre-Olympic History Albania participated in Olympic Football qualifying for the first time in [[Football at the 1964 Summer Olympics – Men's qualification|1964]]. The Albanians faced [[Bulgaria national football team|Bulgaria]] in the opening round, losing both matches 1–0 and failing to qualify for the next round.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.panorama.com.al/sport/besnik-dizdari-e-verteta-e-pjesemarrjes-se-shqiperise-ne-lojerat-olimpike/ | title=Besnik Dizdari: E vërteta e pjesëmarrjes së Shqipërisë në Lojërat Olimpike }}</ref> It wasn't until the [[1972 Summer Olympics]] held in Munich that Albania made another attempt to [[Football at the 1972 Summer Olympics – Men's European Qualifiers|qualify]]. Facing [[Romania national football team|Romania]] in the opening round, they lost both legs 2–1, despite goals from [[Medin Zhega]] and [[Panajot Pano]], respectively. It is to this day Albania's last participation for an [[Football at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Football Tournament]] so far.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.rsssf.org/tableso/ol1972q.html | title=Games of the XX. Olympiad – Football Qualifying Tournament }}</ref>

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The men's national basketball team tried twice to qualify at the [[Summer Olympics]] in [[Basketball at the Summer Olympics|basketball]]. As they participate in two [[FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament|Pre-Olympic Basketball Tournaments]]. First in the qualifying in [[Basketball at the 1972 Summer Olympics|1972]]. They had three matches, losing all but had two close encounters one against [[Belgium men's national basketball team|Belgium]] with 83–82 and the other one being against the [[Netherlands men's national basketball team|Netherlands]] with 84–81 missing so out to the Final Round. Being also Albania's best ever Olympic Qualification attempt in their Basketball History.<ref> http://www.linguasport.com/baloncesto/internacional/olimpiadas/1972_MUNICH_PR.htm</ref> <ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/07/sports/olympics/russia-olympics-us-business.html|title=Fewer Russians Could Be a Windfall for U.S. Olympic Business|last=Draper|first=Kevin|work=The New York Times|date=7 December 2017|access-date=5 February 2018|url-access=registration|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171208120943/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/07/sports/olympics/russia-olympics-us-business.html|archive-date=8 December 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fiba.basketball/federation/Albania|title = FIBA.basketball}}</ref>
Their following participation came 20 years later in [[Basketball at the 1992 Summer Olympics|1992]] in the [[1992 Pre-Olympic Basketball Tournament]]. They competed in Group A. The Albanians secured their first win at this competition against [[Switzerland men's national basketball team|Switzerland]] 84–85 as it was their only win in their campaign. Albania had close losses against Italy 73–87 and Latvia with 78–94 despite that Albania failed to qualify for the playoffs stage, with a 5th-place finish.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.linguasport.com/baloncesto/internacional/olimpiadas/1992_BARCELONA_PR.htm|title=Olympic Basketball Tournament 1992 (Qualifying Stage)|website=www.linguasport.com|accessdate=26 November 2023}}</ref> It is so far the last time that Albania participated in an Olympic Team sport discipline in their entire summer Olympic history so far. <ref> http://www.panorama.com.al/sport/besnik-dizdari-e-verteta-e-pjesemarrjes-se-shqiperise-ne-lojerat-olimpike/#gsc.tab=0</ref>

Albania first officially competed at the [[Munich]] 1972 Summer Olympics with five participants over two events; [[Fatos Pilkati]] and [[Afërdita Tusha]] in the [[Shooting at the 1972 Summer Olympics – Mixed 50 metre free pistol|mixed 50 metre free pistol]], [[Ismail Rama]] and [[Beqir Kosova]] in the [[Shooting at the 1972 Summer Olympics – Mixed 50 metre rifle, prone|mixed 50 metre rifle, prone]], and [[Ymer Pampuri]] in the [[Weightlifting at the 1972 Summer Olympics – Men's 60 kg|men's 60 kg weightlifting]].<ref name="O1972">{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/countries/ALB/summer/1972/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417093514/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/countries/ALB/summer/1972/|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 April 2020|title=Albania at the 1972 Summer Olympics|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=7 August 2015}}</ref> In the 1992 Barcelona Summer Olympics: [[Alma Qeramixhi]] competed in the [[Athletics at the 1992 Summer Olympics – Women's heptathlon|heptathlon]]; [[Kristo Robo]] in the [[Shooting at the 1992 Summer Olympics – Men's 25 metre rapid fire pistol|25 metre rapid fire pistol]]; [[Enkelejda Shehu]] in the [[Shooting at the 1992 Summer Olympics – Women's 25 metre pistol|25 metre pistol]]; [[Frank Leskaj]] in the [[Swimming at the 1992 Summer Olympics – Men's 50 metre freestyle|50 metre freestyle]], [[Swimming at the 1992 Summer Olympics – Men's 100 metre freestyle|100 metre freestyle]], and [[Swimming at the 1992 Summer Olympics – Men's 100 metre breaststroke|100 metre breaststroke]]; [[Sokol Bishanaku]] and [[Fatmir Bushi]] in the under 67.5&nbsp;kg weightlifting; and [[Dede Dekaj]] in the under 110&nbsp;kg weightlifting.<ref name="O1992">{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/countries/ALB/summer/1992/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417093514/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/countries/ALB/summer/1992/|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 April 2020|title=Albania at the 1992 Summer Olympics|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=7 August 2015}}</ref> For the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Albania had seven athletes—4 female and 3 male. [[Mirela Manjani]] were the flag bearer for the Olympic Games in that year.<ref name="O1996">{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/countries/ALB/summer/1996/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417093514/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/countries/ALB/summer/1996/|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 April 2020|title=Albania at the 1996 Summer Olympics|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=7 August 2015}}</ref> At the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Albania's delegation consisted of two male and two female athletes.<ref name="O2000">{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/countries/ALB/summer/2000/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417093517/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/countries/ALB/summer/2000/|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 April 2020|title=Albania at the 2000 Summer Olympics|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=7 August 2015}}</ref> They had seven competitors (two female, five male) in the Athens 2004 Summer Olympics.<ref name="O2004">{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/countries/ALB/summer/2004/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417093515/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/countries/ALB/summer/2004/|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 April 2020|title=Albania at the 2004 Summer Olympics|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=7 August 2015}}</ref> In Beijing at the 2008 Summer Olympics, the nation had eleven athletes (four female and seven male).<ref name="O2008">{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/countries/ALB/summer/2008/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417093512/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/countries/ALB/summer/2008/|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 April 2020|title=Albania at the 2008 Summer Olympics|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=7 August 2015}}</ref> For the London 2012 Summer Olympics, Albania had nine athletes consisting of three women and six men.<ref name="O2012">{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/countries/ALB/summer/2012/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417093514/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/countries/ALB/summer/2012/|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 April 2020|title=Albania at the 2012 Summer Olympics|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=7 August 2015}}</ref> [[Romela Begaj]] the flag bearer for Albania at the [[2012 Summer Olympics]] would compete in [[Weightlifting at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's 58 kg]] category finishing in 9th at the end, after lifting 216&nbsp;kg in total. [[Briken Calja]] would achieve the best result for Albania at the [[2012 Summer Olympics]] in which he would finish 6th in [[Weightlifting at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Men's 69 kg]] after lifting 320&nbsp;kg.

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Briken Calja competed at the [[2016 Summer Olympics]] in the [[Weightlifting at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Men's 69 kg|69kg division]] where he finished in 5th place after lifting 326&nbsp;kg.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rio2016.com/en/weightlifting-standings-wl-mens-69kg |title=Rio 2016 |website=Rio 2016 |access-date=2016-08-31 |url-status = dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826102000/https://www.rio2016.com/en/weightlifting-standings-wl-mens-69kg |archivedate=2016-08-26 }}</ref> Briken Calja would compete at the following [[2020 Summer Olympics]] in the [[Weightlifting at the 2020 Summer Olympics – Men's 73 kg|73kg division]]. The European Weightlifting champion in [[2018 European Weightlifting Championships|2018]] would finish in 4th after lifting.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rtklive.com/sq/news-single.php?ID=541891|title = Briken Calja humb për vetëm 1 kg medaljen e bronztë}}</ref> It would be the best result in the history for Albania at the Summer Olympics until 2024.

In the [[2020 Summer Olympics]] [[Luiza Gega]] wrote history for Albania. As she would be the first athlete from Albania, to qualify for the finals in [[Athletics at the Summer Olympics]]. She finished 5th in [[Athletics at the 2020 Summer Olympics – Women's 3000 metres steeplechase]] with a time of 9:23.85 in the end enough to progress to the finals.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.zeri.info/sport/418110/atletja-shqiptare-luiza-gega-kalon-ne-finale-te-lojerave-olimpike/|title = Atletja shqiptare, Luiza Gega kalon në finale të Lojërave Olimpike|date = August 2021}}</ref> At the final run, she would finish in 13th.


== Medalists from Albania at the Olympic Games ==
== Medalists from Albania at the Olympic Games ==
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In addition, [[Mirela Manjani]] competed for Albania at the [[1996 Summer Olympics]] in Atlanta, but chose to represent Greece in Javelin throw at the [[2000 Summer Olympics]] in Sydney, [[Athletics at the 2000 Summer Olympics – Women's javelin throw|winning silver]], as well as bronze at [[Athletics at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Women's javelin throw|the 2004 Games]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tanea.gr/1999/08/30/sports/eixa-sta-matia-moy-ti-simaia/|title = Είχα στα μάτια μου τη σημαία|date = 30 August 1999}}</ref>
In addition, [[Mirela Manjani]] had competed for Albania in the [[Athletics at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Women's javelin throw|women's javelin throw]] at the [[1996 Summer Olympics]] in Atlanta, finishing 24th. She chose to represent Greece after marrying a Greek citizen in 1997, and won a silver medal at the [[Athletics at the 2000 Summer Olympics – Women's javelin throw|2000 Summer Olympics]] and a bronze medal at the [[Athletics at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Women's javelin throw|2004 Summer Olympics]] while competing for [[Greece at the Olympics|Greece]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tanea.gr/1999/08/30/sports/eixa-sta-matia-moy-ti-simaia/|title = Είχα στα μάτια μου τη σημαία|date = 30 August 1999}}</ref>

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== History ==
Albania first officially competed at the [[Munich]] 1972 Summer Olympics with five participants over two events; [[Fatos Pilkati]] and [[Afërdita Tusha]] in the [[Shooting at the 1972 Summer Olympics – Mixed 50 metre free pistol|mixed 50 metre free pistol]], [[Ismail Rama]] and [[Beqir Kosova]] in the [[Shooting at the 1972 Summer Olympics – Mixed 50 metre rifle, prone|mixed 50 metre rifle, prone]], and [[Ymer Pampuri]] in the [[Weightlifting at the 1972 Summer Olympics – Men's 60 kg|men's 60 kg weightlifting]].<ref name="O1972">{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/countries/ALB/summer/1972/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417093514/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/countries/ALB/summer/1972/|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 April 2020|title=Albania at the 1972 Summer Olympics|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=7 August 2015}}</ref>

In the 1992 Barcelona Summer Olympics Albania sent 7 athletes: [[Alma Qeramixhi]] competed in the [[Athletics at the 1992 Summer Olympics – Women's heptathlon|heptathlon]]; [[Kristo Robo]] in the [[Shooting at the 1992 Summer Olympics – Men's 25 metre rapid fire pistol|25 metre rapid fire pistol]]; [[Enkelejda Shehu]] in the [[Shooting at the 1992 Summer Olympics – Women's 25 metre pistol|25 metre pistol]]; [[Frank Leskaj]] in the [[Swimming at the 1992 Summer Olympics – Men's 50 metre freestyle|50 metre freestyle]], [[Swimming at the 1992 Summer Olympics – Men's 100 metre freestyle|100 metre freestyle]], and [[Swimming at the 1992 Summer Olympics – Men's 100 metre breaststroke|100 metre breaststroke]]; [[Sokol Bishanaku]] and [[Fatmir Bushi]] in the under 67.5&nbsp;kg weightlifting; and [[Dede Dekaj]] in the under 110&nbsp;kg weightlifting.<ref name="O1992">{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/countries/ALB/summer/1992/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417093514/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/countries/ALB/summer/1992/|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 April 2020|title=Albania at the 1992 Summer Olympics|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=7 August 2015}}</ref>

For the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Albania sent seven athletes—4 female and 3 male. [[Mirela Manjani]] was the flag bearer for the Olympic Games that year.<ref name="O1996">{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/countries/ALB/summer/1996/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417093514/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/countries/ALB/summer/1996/|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 April 2020|title=Albania at the 1996 Summer Olympics|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=7 August 2015}}</ref> At the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Albania's delegation consisted of two male and two female athletes.<ref name="O2000">{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/countries/ALB/summer/2000/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417093517/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/countries/ALB/summer/2000/|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 April 2020|title=Albania at the 2000 Summer Olympics|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=7 August 2015}}</ref> They had seven competitors (two female, five male) in the Athens 2004 Summer Olympics.<ref name="O2004">{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/countries/ALB/summer/2004/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417093515/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/countries/ALB/summer/2004/|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 April 2020|title=Albania at the 2004 Summer Olympics|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=7 August 2015}}</ref> In Beijing at the 2008 Summer Olympics, the nation sent eleven athletes (four female and seven male), their highest ever total.<ref name="O2008">{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/countries/ALB/summer/2008/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417093512/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/countries/ALB/summer/2008/|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 April 2020|title=Albania at the 2008 Summer Olympics|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=7 August 2015}}</ref>

For the London 2012 Summer Olympics, Albania sent nine athletes consisting of three women and six men.<ref name="O2012">{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/countries/ALB/summer/2012/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417093514/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/countries/ALB/summer/2012/|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 April 2020|title=Albania at the 2012 Summer Olympics|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=7 August 2015}}</ref> [[Romela Begaj]], who was the flag bearer for Albania at the [[2012 Summer Olympics]], competed in the [[Weightlifting at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's 58 kg|women's 58 kg weightlifting]] category finishing in 9th after lifting 216&nbsp;kg in total.

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[[Briken Calja]] achieved the best result for Albania at the [[2012 Summer Olympics]], finishing 6th in [[Weightlifting at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Men's 69 kg|men's 69 kg weightlifting]] after lifting 320&nbsp;kg. He competed in the [[2016 Summer Olympics]], finishing in 5th place in the [[Weightlifting at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Men's 69 kg|men's 69 kg weightlifting]] after lifting 326&nbsp;kg.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rio2016.com/en/weightlifting-standings-wl-mens-69kg |title=Rio 2016 |website=Rio 2016 |access-date=2016-08-31 |url-status = dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826102000/https://www.rio2016.com/en/weightlifting-standings-wl-mens-69kg |archivedate=2016-08-26 }}</ref> Calja would compete at the following [[2020 Summer Olympics]] in the [[Weightlifting at the 2020 Summer Olympics – Men's 73 kg|men's 73 kg weightlifting]] category. The European Weightlifting champion in [[2018 European Weightlifting Championships|2018]] would finish in 4th after lifting 341&nbsp;kg.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rtklive.com/sq/news-single.php?ID=541891|title = Briken Calja humb për vetëm 1 kg medaljen e bronztë}}</ref> His 4th place finish was the best result in the history for Albania at the Summer Olympics until 2024. Also in the 2020 Summer Olympics [[Luiza Gega]] became the first athlete from Albania to qualify for the finals in [[Athletics at the Summer Olympics|athletics]]. She finished in 5th place in the heats for the [[Athletics at the 2020 Summer Olympics – Women's 3000 metres steeplechase|Women's 3000 metres steeplechase]] with a time of 9:23.85, a season's best. In the final run, Gega finished in 13th place.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.zeri.info/sport/418110/atletja-shqiptare-luiza-gega-kalon-ne-finale-te-lojerave-olimpike/|title = Atletja shqiptare, Luiza Gega kalon në finale të Lojërave Olimpike|date = August 2021}}</ref>

In the [[2024 Summer Olympics]] in Paris, Albania won their first ever medals of the Olympic Games. Two Russian-born athletes with Albanian citizenship, [[Chermen Valiev]] and [[Islam Dudaev]], won bronze medals competing for Albania in [[Wrestling at the 2024 Summer Olympics – Men's freestyle 74 kg|men's freestyle 74 kg]] and [[Wrestling at the 2024 Summer Olympics – Men's freestyle 65 kg|men's freestyle 65 kg]], respectively.

=== Participation in Olympic qualifiers ===
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In 1964, Albania participated for the first time in [[Football at the 1964 Summer Olympics – Men's qualification|qualifiers]] for the football tournament at the Olympics. [[Albania national football team|Albania]] faced [[Bulgaria national football team|Bulgaria]] in the opening round, losing both matches 1–0 and failing to qualify for the next round. <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.panorama.com.al/sport/besnik-dizdari-e-verteta-e-pjesemarrjes-se-shqiperise-ne-lojerat-olimpike/ | title=Besnik Dizdari: E vërteta e pjesëmarrjes së Shqipërisë në Lojërat Olimpike }}</ref> Albania participated in the [[Football at the 1972 Summer Olympics – Men's European Qualifiers|qualifiers]] for the football tournament at the [[1972 Summer Olympics]]. They faced [[Romania national football team|Romania]] in the opening round, losing both legs 2-1, despite goals from [[Medin Zhega]] and [[Panajot Pano]], respectively. <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.rsssf.org/tableso/ol1972q.html | title=Games of the XX. Olympiad – Football Qualifying Tournament }}</ref>

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[[Albania men's national basketball team]] has tried twice to [[Pre-Olympic Basketball Tournament|qualify]] in [[Basketball at the Summer Olympics|basketball]] at the Summer Olympics. In 1972, Albania participated in the Olympic qualifiers for [[Basketball at the 1972 Summer Olympics|basketball]]. They played three qualifying matches, losing all three games, however two were close encounters, with Albania losing 83–82 against [[Belgium men's national basketball team|Belgium]] and 84–81 against the [[Netherlands men's national basketball team|Netherlands]]. This was Albania's best ever Olympic qualification attempt in their Basketball History. <ref> http://www.linguasport.com/baloncesto/internacional/olimpiadas/1972_MUNICH_PR.htm</ref> <ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/07/sports/olympics/russia-olympics-us-business.html|title=Fewer Russians Could Be a Windfall for U.S. Olympic Business|last=Draper|first=Kevin|work=The New York Times|date=7 December 2017|access-date=5 February 2018|url-access=registration|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171208120943/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/07/sports/olympics/russia-olympics-us-business.html|archive-date=8 December 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fiba.basketball/federation/Albania|title = FIBA.basketball}}</ref> Albania next participated in the [[1992 Pre-Olympic Basketball Tournament|basketball qualifiers]] 20 years later in [[Basketball at the 1992 Summer Olympics|1992]] competing in Group B. Albania secured their first win at this competition against [[Switzerland men's national basketball team|Switzerland]] 84–85, which was their only win in their campaign. Albania failed to qualify for the Olympics, with a 5th-place finish in the group.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.linguasport.com/baloncesto/internacional/olimpiadas/1992_BARCELONA_PR.htm|title=Olympic Basketball Tournament 1992 (Qualifying Stage)|website=www.linguasport.com|accessdate=26 November 2023}}</ref> <ref> http://www.panorama.com.al/sport/besnik-dizdari-e-verteta-e-pjesemarrjes-se-shqiperise-ne-lojerat-olimpike/#gsc.tab=0</ref> Albania has never participated in an Olympic Team sport discipline in their entire Olympic history.


== Medal tables ==
== Medal tables ==

Revision as of 20:36, 24 August 2024

Albania at the
Olympics
IOC codeALB
NOCAlbanian National Olympic Committee
Websitenocalbania.org.al  (in Albanian)
Medals
Gold
0
Silver
0
Bronze
2
Total
2
Summer appearances
Winter appearances

Albania first participated at the Summer Olympic Games in 1972. After that, Albania missed the next four games, three of them for political reasons due to the 1980 Summer Olympics boycott, 1984 Summer Olympics boycott and 1988 boycotts, but returned for the Barcelona 1992 Summer Olympics. They have appeared in all games since then. They made their Winter Olympic Games debut in 2006.[1] Albania normally competes in events that include swimming, athletics, weightlifting, shooting, and wrestling. They have been represented by the Albanian National Olympic Committee since 1972.

Albania won two bronze medals in wrestling at the 2024 Summer Olympics. Its first ever Olympic medal came on 10 August 2024 when Chermen Valiev won bronze in the men's freestyle 74 kg and second medal came on 11 August 2024 when Islam Dudaev won bronze in the men's freestyle 65 kg.

Medalists from Albania at the Olympic Games

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

In addition, Mirela Manjani had competed for Albania in the women's javelin throw at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, finishing 24th. She chose to represent Greece after marrying a Greek citizen in 1997, and won a silver medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics and a bronze medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics while competing for Greece.[2]

History

Albania first officially competed at the Munich 1972 Summer Olympics with five participants over two events; Fatos Pilkati and Afërdita Tusha in the mixed 50 metre free pistol, Ismail Rama and Beqir Kosova in the mixed 50 metre rifle, prone, and Ymer Pampuri in the men's 60 kg weightlifting.[3]

In the 1992 Barcelona Summer Olympics Albania sent 7 athletes: Alma Qeramixhi competed in the heptathlon; Kristo Robo in the 25 metre rapid fire pistol; Enkelejda Shehu in the 25 metre pistol; Frank Leskaj in the 50 metre freestyle, 100 metre freestyle, and 100 metre breaststroke; Sokol Bishanaku and Fatmir Bushi in the under 67.5 kg weightlifting; and Dede Dekaj in the under 110 kg weightlifting.[4]

For the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Albania sent seven athletes—4 female and 3 male. Mirela Manjani was the flag bearer for the Olympic Games that year.[5] At the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Albania's delegation consisted of two male and two female athletes.[6] They had seven competitors (two female, five male) in the Athens 2004 Summer Olympics.[7] In Beijing at the 2008 Summer Olympics, the nation sent eleven athletes (four female and seven male), their highest ever total.[8]

For the London 2012 Summer Olympics, Albania sent nine athletes consisting of three women and six men.[9] Romela Begaj, who was the flag bearer for Albania at the 2012 Summer Olympics, competed in the women's 58 kg weightlifting category finishing in 9th after lifting 216 kg in total.

Briken Calja achieved the best result for Albania at the 2012 Summer Olympics, finishing 6th in men's 69 kg weightlifting after lifting 320 kg. He competed in the 2016 Summer Olympics, finishing in 5th place in the men's 69 kg weightlifting after lifting 326 kg.[10] Calja would compete at the following 2020 Summer Olympics in the men's 73 kg weightlifting category. The European Weightlifting champion in 2018 would finish in 4th after lifting 341 kg.[11] His 4th place finish was the best result in the history for Albania at the Summer Olympics until 2024. Also in the 2020 Summer Olympics Luiza Gega became the first athlete from Albania to qualify for the finals in athletics. She finished in 5th place in the heats for the Women's 3000 metres steeplechase with a time of 9:23.85, a season's best. In the final run, Gega finished in 13th place.[12]

In the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, Albania won their first ever medals of the Olympic Games. Two Russian-born athletes with Albanian citizenship, Chermen Valiev and Islam Dudaev, won bronze medals competing for Albania in men's freestyle 74 kg and men's freestyle 65 kg, respectively.

Participation in Olympic qualifiers

In 1964, Albania participated for the first time in qualifiers for the football tournament at the Olympics. Albania faced Bulgaria in the opening round, losing both matches 1–0 and failing to qualify for the next round. [13] Albania participated in the qualifiers for the football tournament at the 1972 Summer Olympics. They faced Romania in the opening round, losing both legs 2-1, despite goals from Medin Zhega and Panajot Pano, respectively. [14]

Albania men's national basketball team has tried twice to qualify in basketball at the Summer Olympics. In 1972, Albania participated in the Olympic qualifiers for basketball. They played three qualifying matches, losing all three games, however two were close encounters, with Albania losing 83–82 against Belgium and 84–81 against the Netherlands. This was Albania's best ever Olympic qualification attempt in their Basketball History. [15] [16][17] Albania next participated in the basketball qualifiers 20 years later in 1992 competing in Group B. Albania secured their first win at this competition against Switzerland 84–85, which was their only win in their campaign. Albania failed to qualify for the Olympics, with a 5th-place finish in the group.[18] [19] Albania has never participated in an Olympic Team sport discipline in their entire Olympic history.

Medal tables

See also: All-time Olympic Games medal table

Flagbearers

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

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Albania at the 2006 Winter Olympics". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
  2. ^ "Είχα στα μάτια μου τη σημαία". 30 August 1999.
  3. ^ a b "Albania at the 1972 Summer Olympics". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
  4. ^ a b "Albania at the 1992 Summer Olympics". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
  5. ^ a b "Albania at the 1996 Summer Olympics". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
  6. ^ a b "Albania at the 2000 Summer Olympics". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
  7. ^ a b "Albania at the 2004 Summer Olympics". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
  8. ^ a b "Albania at the 2008 Summer Olympics". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
  9. ^ a b "Albania at the 2012 Summer Olympics". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
  10. ^ "Rio 2016". Rio 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-08-26. Retrieved 2016-08-31.
  11. ^ "Briken Calja humb për vetëm 1 kg medaljen e bronztë".
  12. ^ "Atletja shqiptare, Luiza Gega kalon në finale të Lojërave Olimpike". August 2021.
  13. ^ "Besnik Dizdari: E vërteta e pjesëmarrjes së Shqipërisë në Lojërat Olimpike".
  14. ^ "Games of the XX. Olympiad – Football Qualifying Tournament".
  15. ^ http://www.linguasport.com/baloncesto/internacional/olimpiadas/1972_MUNICH_PR.htm
  16. ^ Draper, Kevin (7 December 2017). "Fewer Russians Could Be a Windfall for U.S. Olympic Business". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 8 December 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  17. ^ "FIBA.basketball".
  18. ^ "Olympic Basketball Tournament 1992 (Qualifying Stage)". www.linguasport.com. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  19. ^ http://www.panorama.com.al/sport/besnik-dizdari-e-verteta-e-pjesemarrjes-se-shqiperise-ne-lojerat-olimpike/#gsc.tab=0
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