Albania at the
2012 Summer Olympics
IOC codeALB
NOCAlbanian National Olympic Committee
Websitenocalbania.org.al  (in Albanian)
in London
Competitors11 in 5 sports
Flag bearer Romela Begaj
Medals
Gold
0
Silver
0
Bronze
0
Total
0
Summer Olympics appearances (overview)

Albania competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, United Kingdom from 27 July to 12 August 2012. This was the nation's seventh appearance at the Olympics since its debut in 1972. The National Olympic Committee of Albania sent a total of 11 athletes to the Games, seven men and four women, to compete in four sports. Weightlifter Hysen Pulaku was officially removed from the team on the first day, after failing a drug test for the banned anabolic steroid substance, as announced by the International Olympic Committee.[1] Albania, however, has yet to win its first ever Olympic medal.

The Albanians competed in five sports with the same number of athletes like they did at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing in China.

This time around they couldn't improve on their previous achievements as they didn't future their two Wrestlers in Elis Guri and Sahit Prizreni.[2]

Albania competed in Judo with World Judo Juniors Champion of 2009 and twice European Junior Champion of 2009 and 2010 Majlinda Kelmendi, who made her debut at the Olympic games.[3] She competed at the Women's 52 kg event. In the first round she defeated Jaana Sundberg from Finland. Before losing in the round of 16 to Mauritian Judoka Legentil.[4]

In Weightlifting Albania initially competed with four athletes three men and one female. Briken Calja had the best result for Albania as he finished 6th in his debut for Albania lifting 320 kg in total.[5] Romela Begaj competed for the second time for Albania but this time she wasn't able to improve on her result from the previous olympics as she finished 9th in the end.

Athletics

Main article: Athletics at the 2012 Summer Olympics

Albania has qualified 1 female quota place, and selected 1 male athlete by wildcard.

Key
Track & road events
Athlete Event Heat Semifinal Final
Result Rank Result Rank Result Rank
Klodiana Shala[6] Women's 200 m Withdrew due to injury
Field events
Athlete Event Qualification Final
Distance Position Distance Position
Adriatik Hoxha Men's shot put 17.58 37 did not advance

Judo

Main article: Judo at the 2012 Summer Olympics

Albania had not initially qualified a judoka, but due to the International Olympic Committee's refusal to allow Kosovars of Albanian ethnicity to represent Kosovo or to compete as independent athletes, Majlinda Kelmendi represented Albania at the 2012 Summer Olympics.[7]

Athlete Event Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarterfinals Semifinals Repechage Final / BM
Opposition
Result 		Opposition
Result 		Opposition
Result 		Opposition
Result 		Opposition
Result 		Opposition
Result 		Rank
Majlinda Kelmendi Women's −52 kg  Sundberg (FIN)
W 0020–0001 		 Legentil (MRI)
L 0101–1001 		did not advance

Shooting

Main article: Shooting at the 2012 Summer Olympics
Athlete Event Qualification Final
Points Rank Points Rank
Arben Kucana Men's 10 m air pistol 577 20 did not advance
Men's 50 m pistol 524 37 did not advance

Swimming

Main article: Swimming at the 2012 Summer Olympics

Albanian swimmers are invited. One men and female.

Athlete Event Heat Semifinal Final
Time Rank Time Rank Time Rank
Sidni Hoxha Men's 100 m freestyle 51.11 NR 37 did not advance
Noel Borshi Women's 100 m butterfly 1:05.49 40 did not advance

Weightlifting

Main article: Weightlifting at the 2012 Summer Olympics

Albania has qualified three men and one female quota places.[8] On 28 July, the International Olympic Committee announced that Hysen Pulaku had tested positive for stanozolol, a banned anabolic steroid, and consequently ejected him from the games.[1]

Athlete Event Snatch Clean & Jerk Total Rank
Result Rank Result Rank
Briken Calja[9] Men's −69 kg 143 12 177 7 320 6
Daniel Godelli[9] 142 DNF — — — DNF
Endri Karina[a][9] Men's −94 kg 155 15 195 14 350 14
Romela Begaj[9] Women's −58 kg 101 7 115 12 216 9

See also

Notes

a.   ^ The Albanian weightlifter, Erkand Qerimaj, resulted positive in the anti-doping test at the European Championship in Antalya, where he was found European Champion for 77 kg.[10] He provisionally is suspended and replaced by Endri Karina.[11]

References

  1. ^ a b "Hysen Pulaku becomes first doping cheat of London Olympics". The Times of India. Reuters. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  2. ^ "Shqipëria olimpike pa medalje olimpike (Pjesa e katërt)".
  3. ^ "Kosovo Olympic bid turned down". BBC Sport.
  4. ^ "Kosovo's Olympic dream ends". 29 March 2012.
  5. ^ "London 2012 69kg men Results". Olympics.com. 4 February 2022. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  6. ^ "Skuadra olimpike". balkanweb. Archived from the original on 3 February 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
  7. ^ Kosovarja Majlinda Kelmendi do përfaqësojë Shqipërinë në Lojërat Olimpike Archived 28 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Tema, 2012-05-25 (in Albanian)
  8. ^ "Men's Weightlifting Quotas" (PDF). Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  9. ^ a b c d Përcaktohet ekipi i Londrës, Vizion Plus, 2012-04-26 (in Albanian)
  10. ^ Erkand Qerimaj, positive in doping test Archived 29 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Top Channel, 24 May 2012
  11. ^ Përjashtohet Erkand Qerimaj, Top Channel, 2012-06-07 (in Albanian)

External links

National Olympic Committees at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, United Kingdom
Albania at the Olympics
Categories