Shabani remembers an incident at the 2021 U-20 European Championship in Estonia that illustrates just one of the many times he was ready to support Muhamet.

In this competition, putting the shot further than 19.30 meters in the first attempt automatically secures a place in the final. Muhamet putted 19.80 meters and thus qualified.

“The second round starts. I saw that they were not allowing Muhamet to throw. In a rush, I climbed the stadium fences and went to ask why they weren’t letting him throw,” said Shaban. “Then Muhamet gave me a sign to go back, that meant ‘I am qualified.’”

Muhamet became European champion for the U-20 age range with a final distance of 19.92 meters, winning a medal that Kosovo had never previously had in this discipline.

“It is a very good feeling. Because all the work we do that no one sees is rewarded and we never skip training,” said Muhamet.

But Muhamet almost lost the opportunity to compete for this championship, which he and his father remember so fondly today.

Two weeks before the European Championship in Estonia, the U-20 Balkan Championship was held in Türkiye. Muhamet was the favorite and the day before the competition was doing a final practice.

“I took the shot, and when I started spinning, then threw the shot … I thought my leg was broken because it creaked and I fell to the ground,” said Muhamet. Shaban immediately left the stands and took Muhamet to the doctors. One told him that he had sprained his ankle, the other said he had torn a ligament. Those doctors were not Muhamet’s, as he was accompanied to the competitions only by his father, although his rivals had up to four people with them.

“The European Championship was two weeks later. The injury happened around 3:00 p.m. I didn’t sleep until the next day, I was putting ice on his knee. I cried by his knee,” said Shaban. “It wasn’t just that I lost him this competition, but I also thought I made him lose the European Championship.” However, Muhamet recovered within 24 hours.

“He got on the bus limping and went to the competition. He had his [slot] at 6:00 p.m. He started warming up, so I told him to start exercising a bit. I told him to throw it from a stationary position, because there’s nothing else we can do,” said Shaban. “He wanted to enter with the rotational technique, I told him ‘don’t do it,’ he replied ‘I’ll try.’ I said ‘alright try it,’ it went well and he won first place.”

The main goal — the 21 meter Olympic medal

Despite their successes, Muhamet and Shaban are never satisfied. As they win medals, Muhamet is growing older. As he ages, the category in which he competes changes, as does the weight of the shot. This requires more work for the imposingly large duo.

Muhamet does not participate in many competitions. Following the advice of Olympic judo coach Driton Kuka, Muhamet and Shaban choose competitions where they can achieve results and gain experience. However, they have never neglected the local Kosovo championship.

The shadow of a champion

Uran Haxha

The shadow of a champion

Uran Haxha