Distria Krasniqi has finished the year 2025 at the top of the world judo rankings, confirming her status as Kosovo’s best athlete. The European champion and senior World Championship finalist this year considers the season very successful, despite the challenges along the way.
“This year has been an excellent year for me. In every competition I took part in, I was on the podium,” Krasniqi said in an interview with the EJU.
The judoka from Peja emphasized that the key to success is the ability to always start from scratch, regardless of major medals.
“It doesn’t matter whether I win Olympic gold or a European title, I try to forget it and give one hundred percent in every competition,” she stated, also highlighting the decisive role of coach Driton Kuka in analyzing every detail.
Speaking about the future, Distria Krasniqi made it clear that her motivation comes from love for competition rather than pressure. “I try not to think about the expectations of others. What matters is that I am satisfied with my performance,” said the world number one, who is targeting the European and World Championships as the main objectives of the upcoming season.
