Frank Leskaj

Who is Frank Leskaj?

Frank Leskaj, is an American swimmer who swam for Albania at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona by swimming in the 50m Freestyle, 100m Freestyle, and the 100m Breaststroke. Frank was the first Albanian swimmer to compete in the Olympics as well as the first Albanian-American to represent Albania.

Leskaj's all four grandparents were Albanian, and after contacting the Albanian officials he was allowed to represent the country in the 1992 Summer Olympics. The most isolated of the former Iron Curtain countries, Albania had competed in only one Olympics prior to 1992, the 1972 Summer Games, because the government feared contact with foreigners would corrupt its athletes. But in April, Albania elected its first non-communist government since 1945, which allowed the formation of an eight-person Olympic team: four weightlifters, two shooters, one heptathlete and Leskaj.

Leskaj made his first trip to Albania in July 1992. He stayed with a cousin in Tirana, the capital, for a week.There he received all the Albanian Swimming Federation had to offer: 4 leks per day for food, and access to the federation's finest facilities.