Albania at the 2012 Summer Olympics

Albania at the 2012 Summer Olympics
IOC code	ALB
NOC	Albanian National Olympic Committee
Website	nocalbania.org.al  (in Albanian)
in London
Competitors	11 in 5 sports
Flag bearer	Romela Begaj
Medals	Gold 0 Silver 0 Bronze 0 Total 0
Summer Olympics appearances (overview)
1972 1976–1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024

Albania competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, United Kingdom from 27 July to 12 August 2012. This was the nation's seventh appearance at the Olympics since its debut in 1972. The National Olympic Committee of Albania sent a total of 11 athletes to the Games, seven men and four women, to compete in four sports. Weightlifter Hysen Pulaku was officially removed from the team on the first day, after failing a drug test for the banned anabolic steroid substance, as announced by the International Olympic Committee.^[1] Albania, however, has yet to win its first ever Olympic medal.

The Albanians competed in five sports with the same number of athletes like they did at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing in China.

This time around they couldn't improve on their previous achievements as they didn't future their two Wrestlers in Elis Guri and Sahit Prizreni.^[2]

Albania competed in Judo with World Judo Juniors Champion of 2009 and twice European Junior Champion of 2009 and 2010 Majlinda Kelmendi, who made her debut at the Olympic games.^[3] She competed at the Women's 52 kg event. In the first round she defeated Jaana Sundberg from Finland. Before losing in the round of 16 to Mauritian Judoka Legentil.^[4]

In Weightlifting Albania initially competed with four athletes three men and one female. Briken Calja had the best result for Albania as he finished 6th in his debut for Albania lifting 320 kg in total.^[5] Romela Begaj competed for the second time for Albania but this time she wasn't able to improve on her result from the previous olympics as she finished 9th in the end.