Luiza Gega

Luiza Gega (born 5 November 1988) is an Albanian middle- and long-distance runner who specialises in the 3000 metres steeplechase. She is the 2023 European Games and 2022 European Championships champion in 3000 metres steeplechase. She is the national record holder in 3000 metres steeplechase, 800 metres, 1500 metres, 3000 metres, 5000 metres, 10,000 metres, and marathon.

Career Gega began athletics when she was 14 years old.

Gega represented Albania at the 2013 Mediterranean Games and won the silver medal in 1500 metres. She then competed at the 2013 Summer Universiade and initially finished third in the 1500 metres. She was later awarded the gold medal after both Yekaterina Sharmina and Yelena Korobkina were disqualified due to doping violations.

Gega won the silver medal in the 3000 metres steeplechase at the 2016 European Championships. This was Albania's first ever medal at the European Athletics Championships. She then represented Albania at the 2016 Summer Olympics in 3000 metres steeplechase but did not advance beyond the heats. She was Albania's flagbearer in the opening ceremonies.

Gega won the gold medal in 3000 metres steeplechase at the 2018 Mediterranean Games. She then placed fourth in the same event at the 2018 European Championships.

Gega placed ninth in 3000 metres steeplechase at the 2019 World Championships and set the national record time in the final. She represented Albania at the 2020 Summer Olympics in 3000 metres steeplechase and qualified for the final where she finished 13th. She once again was Albania's flagbearer in the opening ceremonies.

At the 2022 Balkan Championships, Gega set the championship and national record in the 5000 metres, winning the gold medal. She also set the championship record in the 3000 metres steeplechase to win another gold medal. She then won the gold medal in the 3000 metres steeplechase at the 2022 Mediterranean Games and set a new national record. She qualified for the 3000 metres steeplechase at the 2022 World Championships and finished fifth, setting another new national record in the process. Then at the 2022 European Championships, she won Albania's first-ever European gold medal and set a new championship record in 3000 metres steeplechase.

Gega finished eighth in the 3000 metres steeplechase final at the 2023 World Championships. She then placed fifth in the 3000 metres steeplechase final at the 2024 European Championships. She represented Albania at the 2024 Summer Olympics but did not advance beyond the heats in 3000 metres steeplechase.

Competition record

Personal bests 800 metres – 2:01.31 (Tbilisi 2014) 800 metres indoor – 2:02.27 (Piraeus 2013) 1500 metres – 4:02.63 (Doha 2015) 1500 metres indoor – 4:06.66 (Istanbul 2017) 3000 metres – 8:46.61 (Elbasan 2022) 3000 metres indoor – 8:44.46 (Karlsruhe 2020) 5000 metres – 15:16.47 (Craiova 2022) 10,000 metres – 32:16.25 (Birmingham 2021) 2000 metres steeplechase – 5:56.79 (Zagreb 2023) 3000 metres steeplechase – 9:09.64 (Zurich 2023) Road 10 km – 33:43 (Tirana 2019) Half marathon – 1:11:17 (Luzern 2023) Marathon – 2:35:34 (Skopje 2020)

Honour Grand Cross of the Order of Public Gratitude (2022)