Albanian Weightlifting Continues to Produce Exceptional Talent: The Rise of Enkileda Carja

Albanian weightlifting continues to produce extraordinary talent, and the name shining brighter than ever on the international stage is Enkileda Carja. The young weightlifter from Elbasan is making history in Albanian sport, successfully transitioning from youth categories to the junior elite while continuing to break records and win medals at the world's most prestigious competitions.

Born on January 23, 2008, in Elbasan, Carja demonstrated exceptional potential from an early age. Under the guidance of renowned coach Eglantina Kalemi, she has developed into one of the most promising talents in European weightlifting.

The Beginning of Her Climb to the Top

Enkileda Carja's first international competition took place on August 12, 2022, in Raszyn, Poland, where, at just 14 years old, she won three bronze medals in the 55 kg category.

On March 28, 2023, she captured two bronze medals at the Youth World Championships held in Durrës, Albania, competing in the 59 kg category.

At the European U15-U17 Championships in Chișinău, Moldova, Carja not only won three gold medals but was also named the best athlete of the championship in the U15 category.

Later that year, at the Youth World Championships in Tashkent, she earned a bronze medal in the 59 kg division. Carja lifted 87 kg in the snatch and 100 kg in the clean and jerk, for a total of 187 kg.

In Chișinău, she completely dominated the competition, setting several European records for her age group. Her 21-kilogram advantage over the runner-up clearly demonstrated her superiority.

Dominance Across Europe

In 2024, the Albanian prodigy continued to prove her quality at the European Youth Championships in Thessaloniki. Despite being only 15 years old, she won the gold medal in the snatch with 86 kg and the silver medal in the overall total with 190 kg in the 64 kg category.

Her performances were attracting increasing attention from weightlifting experts across Europe.

The Historic Year of 2025

The peak of her Youth career came in 2025. At the U17 World Championships in Lima, Peru, Enkileda Carja was crowned a triple world champion, winning gold medals in the snatch, clean and jerk, and total.

She set European records with 98 kg in the snatch, 115 kg in the clean and jerk, and 213 kg in total, becoming the first Albanian weightlifter to win three world titles at a single championship in this age category.

As if that were not enough, Carja also competed in the Junior (U20) category, where she secured a bronze medal in the snatch, proving she was ready for challenges at the highest level.

That same year, at the European Youth Championships, she dominated the 63 kg category, setting new European records with 98 kg in the snatch and 118 kg in the clean and jerk.

A Successful Transition to the Junior Level

The year 2026 marked a new chapter in her career. The transition from Youth to Junior competition is considered one of the most difficult challenges for any weightlifter, but Enkileda Carja passed this test with remarkable success.

At the European Junior Championships in Batumi, Georgia, she broke the European junior record in the snatch by lifting 103 kg in the 69 kg category.

Just a few weeks later, at the Junior World Championships in Ismailia, Egypt, the Albanian weightlifter won two bronze medals and set another European junior record in the total with an impressive 229 kg.

These achievements confirmed that her dominance was not limited to youth categories but was continuing at the highest levels of international competition.

Europe’s Rising Star

For her outstanding performances and spectacular progress, the European Weightlifting Federation honored Enkileda Carja with the prestigious “Europe’s Rising Star” award.

This recognition places the Albanian athlete among the most promising sportswomen on the continent and confirms that she is one of the names expected to dominate European and world weightlifting in the years ahead.

At only 18 years old, Enkileda Carja has already achieved more than many champions accomplish throughout their entire careers. Her records, medals, and winning mentality have made her one of the greatest prides of Albanian sport and one of the country's brightest hopes for future success on the international stage.