Story highlights Kelmendi wins gold in judo

Triumphs in women's 52 kg event

Defeats Italy's Giuffrida in final

Kosovo's first Olympic medal

(CNN) She was already the golden girl of judo -- now she has the medal to go with it.

Majlinda Kelmendi made history in Rio de Janiero Sunday by becoming the first athlete from Kosovo to win an Olympic medal.

The 25-year-old defeated Italy's Odette Giuffrida in the final of the women's 52 kg event to add Games gold to the two world titles and three European crowns she's won since 2013.

The world No. 1, who represented Albania four years ago, gave Kosovo its first medal since becoming a member of the International Olympic Committee two years ago.

This is the first Olympics at which athletes can compete under the flag of Kosovo, which proclaimed independence from Serbia in 2008.

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