At a time when public discourse in Kosovo is often dominated by ethnic divisions and narratives of the past, a different story is unfolding in Gjilan—a story of coexistence, understanding, and integration through sport.
In gyms, where people share the same goals of health, physical development, and personal well-being, ethnic differences lose their importance. In this space, dedication, discipline, and mutual respect become a common language.
One concrete example of this reality is Five Star Fitness in Gjilan, where for years both Albanians and Serbs have trained together, creating an environment that demonstrates how sport can serve as a bridge between communities.
From surrounding villages of Gjilan such as Cernica, Shillova e Serbëve, and Kufca, as well as from other municipalities like Parteš, an increasing number of young Serbs are becoming active participants in the city’s sports life.
A Safe and Non-Judgmental Environment
38-year-old Biljana Bogdanović from the municipality of Parteš has been part of this fitness center for two years. She works in Gjilan at the Kosovo Police and says that her decision to train in the city has been an entirely positive experience.
“I don’t live in Gjilan; I come from the municipality of Parteš, but I work in Gjilan at the Kosovo Police. I started training at this gym about two years ago,” she says.
According to her, the environment has been safe and welcoming from day one.
“It is a good and safe place to work out. Everyone is communicative and friendly. There are no prejudices about our ethnicity or anything similar. Everything is fine and we have not encountered any problems so far,” Bogdanović says.
She adds that she is not the only member of the Serbian community who attends this gym.
“There are many Serbian girls, women, young men, and men who train here. We work out together, and anyone who wants to come is welcome. We have never had even the slightest problem,” the 38-year-old says.
A Continuous Growth of Serbian Clients
The gym staff also confirms this trend.
Sofije Leka, a receptionist at Five Star Fitness for seven years, says that the number of Serbian clients has been steadily increasing.
“I have been part of Five Star Fitness for seven years and I can say with full certainty that there is continuous growth in the number of Serbian clients every year,” says Sofije Leka.
According to her, cooperation and communication have always been correct.
“We are satisfied with them and they are satisfied with us. For us as staff everything is very easy to manage and so far we have had no problems,” she says.
Fitness as a Neutral Space
For trainer Rinor Behluli, who has been part of Five Star Fitness for five years and has worked in fitness for 16 years, the gym is one of those places where prejudices naturally disappear.
“So far I have not noticed any difference between Albanian and Serbian clients. Everything functions normally, correctly, and with respect,” he says.
He believes that sport has a direct impact on bringing communities closer together.
“I think fitness has an extremely positive effect on bringing people closer. It is a place where everyone feels at home and where there are no prejudices, judgments, or ethnic and religious divisions,” Behluli says.
Behluli emphasizes that he treats all clients equally.
“I personally treat all clients the same. I make no distinctions. Lately I have noticed increasing interest from the Serbian community and the reason is simple—they feel good here,” says the 32-year-old from Gjilan.
“We Are All the Same”
The same view is shared by Flamur Vranja, a regular client at Five Star Fitness for more than four years.
“Since I have been part of the gym until today, there have been no problems between Albanian and Serbian clients. Communication is good and we all train the same way, without differences,” he says.
He sees sport as a natural way of integration.
“The integration of communities through sport is very positive. For me there are no differences; we are all the same,” Vranja says.
A Model That Challenges Prejudices
In a society where interethnic relations are often viewed through the lens of tension, realities like this in Gjilan offer a different perspective.
Five Star Fitness is not just a gym. It is a concrete example of how shared spaces, built on respect and common goals, can serve as real platforms for integration.
Sport alone does not solve social challenges, but it can create bridges of communication that are often missing in other spheres of life.
In the end, when weights are lifted, sweat is shed, and everyone works toward becoming the best version of themselves, ethnicity loses its importance.
What remains is respect, dedication, and a clear message: coexistence is not built only with words, but through shared everyday life.