The International Judo Federation features Kelmendi in its 'The Olympic Champions' series, highlighting her historic legacy.
On 28 June 2023, the International Judo Federation (IJF) published a feature profile of Majlinda Kelmendi as part of its "The Olympic Champions" series, a retrospective collection celebrating judo's most significant Olympic gold medalists. The profile emphasized her historic role as Kosovo's first Olympic champion and examined her broader impact on the sport and on Kosovo's international sporting identity.
The feature recounted her journey from a war-affected childhood in Peja to becoming a two-time world champion and Olympic gold medalist, framing her Rio 2016 victory as one of the most emotionally resonant moments in modern Olympic judo history. It also highlighted her post-retirement work as a coach and mentor, noting her influence on subsequent Kosovar Olympic champions Distria Krasniqi and Nora Gjakova.
Being featured in this official IJF retrospective series cemented Kelmendi's place in the institutional memory of the sport, ensuring that her achievements and their significance for Kosovo would be documented and recognized by judo's global governing body. The profile served as a lasting tribute to her legacy, situating her among an elite group of judokas whose Olympic triumphs the IJF considers historically defining moments for the sport.