The Albanian-American community celebrates the exceptional legacy of Shaban Tërstena, an extraordinary athlete with Albanian roots from Skopje, Macedonia, who has significantly impacted the wrestling world. As a genuine sporting legend, Tërstena triumphed at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, capturing the gold medal, and earned a silver medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, representing Yugoslavia. Remarkably, he is still the youngest wrestler to secure Olympic gold, a milestone he reached at just 19 years old.

Tërstena’s influence extends beyond the Olympic arena; he was a dominant force in European wrestling, clinching the European Championship titles in 1984 and again in 1990 in Poznan. Throughout his illustrious career, Tërstena graced 42 international tournaments, securing 30 gold medals and a host of silver and bronze medals, demonstrating his exceptional talent and relentless commitment to wrestling.

His impressive career tally of 715 victories from 741 matches serves as a powerful testament to his skill, dedication, and indomitable spirit, ensuring his legacy in the sport of wrestling endures.