Samoel Rrasa Wins Albania’s First Medal at the European Championships in Durrës

Albania has claimed its first medal at the European Junior & U23 Weightlifting Championships in Durrës. Samoel Rrasa earned bronze in the clean and jerk in the junior men’s 65 kg category with a successful lift of 153 kg.

The Albanian weightlifter completed the lift on his first attempt before aiming for a higher position on the podium. His subsequent attempts at 156 kg and 157 kg were unsuccessful, leaving him with the result that secured European bronze.

In the snatch, Rrasa lifted 125 kg on his opening attempt but could not complete his next two lifts at 128 kg and 129 kg. He finished fourth in the discipline and also placed fourth overall with a combined total of 278 kg.

His bronze medal in Durrës adds to another significant achievement this year. In May, Rrasa won silver in the snatch at the World Junior Championships in Ismailia, Egypt, lifting 134 kg in the same weight category. That result appears in the International Weightlifting Federation’s official results book.

The European Junior & U23 Championships run from October 12 to 19, with the FAFA Hotel serving as the official competition venue. According to the European Weightlifting Federation, this is the fifth time Durrës has hosted the championships, following the editions held in 2008, 2017, 2022 and 2025.

Rrasa ends his competition with one medal and two fourth-place finishes. For Albania, his bronze marks its first podium appearance at this year’s championships, with competition continuing until October 19.