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The story of former weightlifter Ilir Suli/ Once a champion, today he recruits soldiers
2022-08-27 16:04:18 / TRENDING
Ilir Suli was 37 years old when he ended his career as a weightlifter.
Today, he is far from the image of the vice-captain of Europe in 2000. Since February last year, he has been working at the Ministry of Defense as a specialist for the recruitment of young soldiers.
He does not keep in touch with his former colleagues. Although he was one of the most famous athletes in the country, with established records and invited medals, writes Euronews Albania.
"It's been a while since I've been disconnected. I'm just closed a little in my cage, as they say," says the former champion.
From the end of his career as a sportsman to the start of work in the ministry, 10 years passed.
“I was just breathing, what can a man do. I didn't deal with anything", says Suli.
Now he sees the developments in Albanian sports from the outside, but not without regret.
What is the truth about sports, they have made, they have made good fields, good stadiums. We simply ask to live with dignity in the country we have given, that's all, he says.
But is it possible to earn a living in Albania as an elite athlete?
"I have received for a long time with all the medals from the state and sponsors about 70 million. They gave you the medal and nothing else. When you participate in a race, you respect the flag. Then I have to reward the state", says the former weightlifter.
Currently, the European champion in athletics, Luiza Gega, weightlifter Briken Çalja, judokas Nora Gjakova, Distria Kresniqi and Indrit Cullhaj, as well as athlete Ilir Këllezi work at the Ministry of Defense.
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