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| Lara after winning the bronze medal in Budapest |
Just like last year, Laura has secured third place in the senior category, reaffirming her position among the best in the world.
“In the first round she had a bye. In the second round, Laura defeated Natalia Kropska from Poland, and in the following round she won against Carlotta Avanzato from Italy. In the quarterfinals, Laura was defeated by Rafaela Silva from Brazil, moving her to the repechage round where she faced Enkhriilen Lkhagvatogoo from Mongolia. In the decisive match for the bronze medal, Laura beat Nauana Silva from Brazil with an Ippon,” stated the Judo Federation of Kosovo in a Facebook post.
This achievement adds to an already impressive career. In August of last year, the 24-year-old judoka won her first Olympic medal, also a bronze, in the under 63-kilogram weight category.
When it comes to judo, Kosovo has become a globally recognized name, especially after the historic successes of Majlinda Kelmendi—now a coach—who made history by winning Kosovo's first-ever Olympic medal at the Rio de Janeiro Games in 2016, where she claimed gold.
So far, judo remains the only sport that has brought Olympic medals to Kosovo—a total of five to date. Laura Fazliu’s consistent success is a testament to the strength and determination of Kosovo’s judokas, who continue to make their country proud on the world stage.