After Kelmendi became World Champion in 2013 and especially after she won it again in 2015, she was courted by several countries to represent them at the Olympics. This led to many clashes between Kuka and Kelmendi’s family, who wanted her to consider these lucrative offers.
“Her family lived in poor conditions and Majlinda was the main income earner in her family, so I can understand why they wanted her to do this,” he says. “But I wanted her to represent our country and win medals for our country.”
Kuka appealed to the sports ministry for more support and some financial aid was provided although it was nowhere as lucrative as what she could have gotten had she agreed to switch nationalities. “In the end, Majlinda listened to me and stayed in Kosovo,” he says. “I’m really happy she did.”
He should be;. Kosovo’s first Olympic gold medal of any sport came from judo when Kelmendi won the -52kg division in Rio de Janeiro. It’s an accomplishment for the history books.