Podgorica, Montenegro – A traditional high-diving competition held on Saturday at the iconic "Ura e Vezirit" bridge in Podgorica turned controversial after Kosovar diver Shkëlzen Goqi was disqualified for making the Albanian double-headed eagle gesture before his dive. The act, widely used by Albanian athletes to celebrate their heritage, was perceived as a political provocation by a part of the audience and organizers.
Goqi, a seasoned high diver from Gjakova, Kosovo, was one of the participants in the long-awaited return of the bridge-diving competition, organized for the first time in 15 years. Prior to executing a clean and impressive dive from a height of 27 meters, he raised his hands to form the shape of the Albanian eagle — a gesture symbolic of national pride for Albanians worldwide.
Despite enthusiastic reactions from many attendees, whistles and jeers erupted from segments of the crowd. The gesture was not well received by some spectators, reportedly from the Serbian community, and was deemed inappropriate by the event's organizers. As a result, Goqi was disqualified and banned from further participation in diving events in Podgorica.
Montenegrin media, such as Pobjeda, described the symbol as connected to the notion of a "Greater Albania" and labeled Goqi's act as a "provocation." Edvald Krniq, the eventual winner of the competition, admitted to having initiated the disqualification request. "I immediately intervened with the professional jury, and they decided to disqualify him. He’s now banned from participating in similar competitions here," Krniq told Pobjeda.
Podgorica’s Secretary of Sports, Darko Nikčević, defended the decision, stating:
“It is true that one of the contestants made an inappropriate gesture by displaying the double-headed eagle, violating the code of conduct of the event. The jury acted based on existing rules that prohibit the display of political, national, or other inappropriate messages.”
However, critics have pointed out that there are no explicit written rules banning such gestures in the competition, which lacks a formal regulatory framework. Decisions are often left to the discretion of the jury and organizers.
In a statement to Koha, Goqi said:
“I greeted the audience and made the eagle sign. It angered the Serbian spectators, not the Montenegrins or Albanians. After my first perfect jump, I was preparing for a second dive when several Serbian hooligans confronted me, making throat-slitting gestures and shouting threats. Even my sports gear had eagle symbols, and they demanded I remove them. I ignored them. The organizer later pulled me out of the event.”
He went on to describe how the situation escalated but emphasized that apart from the provocation, everything else was going well.
The high-diving tradition in Gjakova, particularly the “swallow-style” dives, is a much-loved and risky sport. Goqi is well-known in the region for his performances and his presence was anticipated at the Podgorica event. However, the merging of national identity with sporting expression proved controversial in Montenegro’s complex interethnic environment.
Many in Kosovo see the incident as a reminder of the lingering influence of Serbian nationalist sentiment in Montenegrin institutions and sports. The disqualification has sparked debate across Albanian-language media and social platforms, with numerous voices defending Goqi’s right to express cultural identity.
The Podgorica event, intended to revive a long-lost tradition of athletic celebration, has instead revealed underlying ethnic tensions that continue to affect sports in the Balkans.