Luiza Gega (born 5 November 1988)[2] is an Albanian middle- and long-distance runner who specialises in the 3000 metres steeplechase since 2016.

Luiza Gega
Gega at the 2019 ISTAF Berlin meet
Personal information
Born (1988-11-05) 5 November 1988 (age 36)
Okshtun, Dibër, Albania
Height1.59 m (5 ft 2+12 in)
Weight45 kg (99 lb)
Military career
Service / branchAlbanian Armed Forces
Years of service2022–[1]
Rank Colonel
Sport
CountryAlbania
SportTrack and field
Event(s)3000m steeplechase
Middle-, Long-distance running
Coached byTaulant Stërmasi
Medal record
Women's athletics
Representing  Albania
European Games
Gold medal – first place 2023 Kraków-Małopolska 3000 m s'chase
European Championships
Gold medal – first place 2022 Munich 3000 m s'chase
Silver medal – second place 2016 Amsterdam 3000 m s'chase
Mediterranean Games
Gold medal – first place 2018 Tarragona 3000 m s'chase
Gold medal – first place 2022 Oran 3000 m s'chase
Silver medal – second place 2013 Mersin 1500 m
Summer Universiade
Gold medal – first place 2013 Kazan 1500 m
Luiza Gega races the 2000 m steeplechase at the 2019 ISTAF Berlin meet

Career

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Gega won the silver medal in the event at the 2016 European Championships, and a gold in 2022 setting the championship record in the process. Her silver was the first ever Albania’s European medal, while her gold was the first ever title for the country at the European Athletics Championships.[3]

Gega represented Albania at the 2016 Rio Olympics, and 2020 Tokyo Olympics, competing in the women's 3000 m steeplechase.[4][5][6]

She competed at the 2019 World Athletics Championships, finishing ninth, and at the 2022 World Athletics Championships, finishing fifth, both in the 3000 metres steeplechase. In 2022 she became European Champion in that discipline, where previously, in 2016, she had been runner-up.

Gega is the Albanian record holder in the 800, 1500, 3000 (those three out and indoor), 5000, 10,000 metres, half-marathon and marathon distances as well as the 2000 and 3000 metres steeplechase.

Competition record

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Representing   Albania
Year Competition Venue Position Event Notes
2011 European Indoor Championships Paris, France 17th (h) 800 m 2:08.75
Universiade Shenzhen, China 7th (sf) 800 m 2:04.13
World Championships Daegu, South Korea 28th (h) 800 m 2:03.21
2012 World Indoor Championships Istanbul, Turkey 13th (h) 1500 m 4:13.45
European Championships Helsinki, Finland 13th (h) 1500 m 4:12.54
2013 European Indoor Championships Gothenburg, Sweden 800 m DQ
Mediterranean Games Mersin, Turkey 4th 800 m 2:01.96 NR
2nd 1500 m 4:05.63
Universiade Kazan, Russia 2nd 1500 m 4:08.71
World Championships Moscow, Russia 19th (sf) 1500 m 4:08.79
2014 World Indoor Championships Sopot, Poland 6th 1500 m 4:08.24
European Championships Zürich, Switzerland 11th (h) 1500 m 4:12.25
2015 European Games[a] Baku, Azerbaijan 2nd 800 m 2:02.36
1st 1500 m 4:11.58
World Championships Beijing, China 21st (h) 1500 m 4:09.36
2016 World Indoor Championships Portland, OR, United States 16th (h) 1500 m 4:16.12
European Championships Amsterdam, Netherlands 2nd 3000 m s'chase 9:28.52 NR
Olympic Games Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 48th (h) 3000 m s'chase 9:58.49
2017 European Indoor Championships Belgrade, Serbia 5th 1500 m 4:11.64
2018 World Indoor Championships Birmingham, United Kingdom 17th (h) 1500 m 4:10.65
Mediterranean Games Tarragona, Spain 1st 3000 m s'chase 9:27.73
European Championships Berlin, Germany 4th 3000 m s'chase 9:24.78
2019 World Championships Doha, Qatar 9th 3000 m s'chase 9:19.93 NR
2021 Olympic Games Tokyo, Japan 13th 3000 m s'chase 9:34.10 (SB h)
2022 World Indoor Championships Belgrade, Serbia 13th 3000 m 8:53.14
Balkan Championships Craiova, Romania 1st 5000 m 15:16.47 CR NR
1st 3000 m s'chase 9:17.89 CR
Mediterranean Games Oran, Algeria 1st 3000 m s'chase 9:14.29 GR NR
World Championships Eugene, United States 5th 3000 m s'chase 9:10.04 NR
European Championships Munich, Germany 1st 3000 m s'chase 9:11.31 CR
2023 World Championships Budapest, Hungary 8th 3000 m s'chase 9:10.27
2024 European Championships Rome, Italy 5th 3000 m s'chase 9:22.92
Olympic Games Paris, France 27th (h) 3000 m s'chase 9:27.41

Personal bests

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Road

Notes

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  1. ^ The third league of the 2015 European Team Championships

References

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  1. ^ "Triumfi historik i Luiza Gegës si pasqyrë e mexhelisit tonë social-politik" [The historic triumph of Luiza Gega as a reflection of our social-political mexelis] (in Albanian). Prime Minister's Office (Albania). 25 August 2022. Sportistët e punësuar aktualisht pranë Ministrisë së Mbrojtjes, që do të përfitojnë nga ky ligj gradën e kolonelit janë: 1. Luiza GEGA – "Kolonel", 2. Briken CALJA – "Kolonel", 3. Nora GJAKOVA – "Kolonel", 4. Distria KRASNIQI – "Kolonel"
  2. ^ "Luiza GEGA – Athlete Profile". World Athletics. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  3. ^ "Auf Wiedersehen Munich! Hosts Germany's best championships this century". European Athletics. 2022-08-23. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
  4. ^ "Athletics GEGA Luiza - Tokyo 2020 Olympics". olympics.com. Retrieved 2021-10-16.
  5. ^ "Athlete Luiza Gega crosses the 3000 m steeplechase final". Oculus News. Retrieved 2021-10-16.
  6. ^ Anonym. "Albanian athlete Luiza Gega finishes 13th in the world in the 3000m hurdles final | txtreport.com". www.txtreport.com. Retrieved 2021-10-16.
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Olympic Games
Preceded by Flagbearer for   Albania
Rio de Janeiro 2016
Tokyo 2020
Succeeded by
Incumbent


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Done 1
eth 1
games 10
News 1