Team Albania - Profile

Highlights:

@ PYEONGCHANG 2018
Albania competed in Alpine skiing, with a team of two athletes (one man, one woman). Suela Mehilli finished 53rd in women's giant slalom and Erjon Tola placed 36th in men's slalom and 47th in men's giant slalom. They are also Albania's only Winter Olympians as Mehilli competed at Sochi 2014 and Tola appeared at Torino 2006 and Vancouver 2010.

PYEONGCHANG 2018 FLAGBEARERS
Opening Ceremony: Suela Mehilli (ALP)
Closing Ceremony: Suela Mehilli (ALP)

OLYMPIC GAMES HISTORY
Albania's National Olympic Committee was founded in 1958 and recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on 25 May 1959 at the IOC Session in Munich, but Albania did not compete at the Olympic Games until 1972. They did not return to the Olympic Games for 20 years, appearing again at Barcelona 1992. Albania has not won any Olympic medals.

Albania has competed at the Olympic Winter Games continuously since 2006, but only in Alpine skiing. They have had only two Winter Olympians to date (one man, one woman). Erjon Tola competed in men's Alpine events (2006, 2010, 2018), while Suela Mehilli skied women's events (2014, 2018).

Tola carried the Albanian flag at the Opening Ceremony in 2006, 2010, and 2014 (he was entered in 2014 but had to withdraw after breaking his arm in training), while Mehilli carried it in 2018.

Albania has been known for producing talented weightlifters, a few of which have emigrated to Greece. Most notably Pyrros Dimas, who was born in Albania but won three Olympic gold medals for Greece in weightlifting (1996, 2000, 2004), and a bronze medal (2008).

The best result for athletes representing Albania came at Tokyo 2020 when weightlifter Briken Calja just missed the podium, finishing fourth in the middleweight class.

MILESTONES

First Competitor, Female: Suela Mehilli (18 February 2014) - 2014 - Alpine Skiing (Giant Slalom) - 60th
First Competitor, Male: Erjon Tola (18 February 2006) - 2006 - Alpine Skiing (Super G) - 56th

Youngest Competitor, Female: Suela Mehilli (20y-020d) - 2014 - Alpine Skiing (Giant Slalom) - 60th
Youngest Competitor, Male: Erjon Tola (19y-064d) - 2006 - Alpine Skiing (Super G) - 56th

Oldest Competitor, Female: Suela Mehilli (24y-018d) - 2018 - Alpine Skiing (Slalom) - DNF
Oldest Competitor, Male: Erjon Tola (31y-068d) - 2018 - Alpine Skiing (Slalom) - 36th

Additional Information:

http://nocalbania.org.al/

Anthem Title: Hymni i Flamurit (Hymn of the Flag)

Anthem Composer: Music: Ciprian Porumbescu, Lyrics: Aleksander Stavre Drenova

Anthem Inducted: 1912

Founding Date: 1958

IOC Recognition Date: 1959

Delegation President: Fidel Ylli

Delegation Secretary General: Stavri Bello

First OG/PG Appearance: 2006

Number OG/PG Appearances: 4