On Monday, June 28, 2021 Canadian sprinter Andre De Grasse visited Cobourg before heading to the Tokyo Olympic Games. While in Cobourg he met with Dr. Alban Merepeza, his Sports Chiropractor.
“It’s always good to come back home, get a little workout in and see Alban, my chiropractor,” De Grasse told Northumberland News.
Check out the full article from Northumberland News.
Once again Dr. Merepeza was invited by the Albanian Skiing Federation to be the Albanian Alpine Skiing Team’s medical staff. This was a special event as Dr. Merepeza and his very good friend Dr. Roger Woodward formed the medical team. This was the first time that Dr. Woodward and Dr. Merepea have worked together with Dr. Woodward being the physician for the team and Dr. Merepeza its chiropractor. It was an exciting event as the Albanian skiers improved their ranking in this competition.
It was fantastic scenery in the Swiss Alps and one of the best memorable events in winter sports for all.
This was undoubtedly the best Olympic Games Dr. Merepeza has attended. He was there as official chiropractor for the Canadian Olympic Team and specifically with athletics team. It was very exciting to be in Rio with probably the most promising Athletics Team that Canada had ever send to any Olympic Games. The Canadian Team produced the best results as expected collecting six medals with Andre de Grasee leading the way with three medals, bronze in 100m, silver in 200m and bronze on the 4X100m relay.
Dr. Merepeza travelled to Beijing for the Athletics World Championships as a personal chiropractor with talented Canadian sprinter Andre De Grasse. It was great to be back in Beijing seven years since 2008 Olympics. It was an exciting event as Andre came as NCAA champion in 100m and 200m with some phenomenal times 9.75 and 19.58 which he did in a fashion that has never been done before, only 45 minutes apart between both races.
He got bronze with 9.92 in 100m and it was a fantastic result for Andre! He put Canada on the sprint map again!
The PAN AM Games in Toronto were a unique opportunity for all of us at Port Hope Health Centre to get involved and contribute to the Games. Sandor, our physiotherapist, was selected to work at the Weightlifting Competition held in Oshawa Civic Arena and Dr. Merepeza was the Lead Medical practitioner for the Weightlifting Sport. The Medical Team included 5 MDs, 6 Physiotherapists, 3 Athletic therapists, 4 Massage Therapists and the staff from St John’s Ambulance and Durham’s Paramedic EMS Services. One of the MDs was our own Dr. Kemi Oluyole, Family Physician at Cobourg Health Centre.
Dr. Merepeza, after the weightlifting competition was over, moved on to track and field for the remainder of the games working with Andre De Grasee who won gold in 100m (10.05), 200m (19.88) Canadian Record!
It was a fantastic experience for all of us and we were extremely proud to have participated in this great once in a life time Canadian PAN AM Games.
Dr. Merepeza had the pleasure once again to work with Albanian Ski Team at this great event. It was a good experience being in Colorado mountains and specifically in the beautiful towns of Vail and Beaver Creek.
It was great to be back working for the Host Medical Services in Central American and Caribbean Games in Veracruz, Mexico. Everything about Mexico that Dr. Merepeza loves was there. Great friends (many colleagues that he has worked before with Mexico, Dr. Raul Castillo, Dr. Saul Luenga and others), great weather, great hospitality and the warmth of the Mexican culture! There were 31 countries and 5707 athletes that competed in 36 sports. Overall another great experience in Mexico.
In September 2014 Dr. Merepeza was asked by the Albanian Football Federation to join their medical staff of the Albanian Senior National Football Team. He was the team doctor for the Albanian U21 National Team under head coach Mr. Skender Gega and now he has joined the medical team of the senior team that consists of a team physician two PTs and Dr. Merepeza. The team is headed by Italian coaching staff with head coach Mr. Gianni de Biasi and assistant coach Paolo Tramezzani. It is an honour to be part of the team staff and it has been a great experience so far into the qualifying campaign. The team has obtained the best results in their history so far by beating Portugal in Porto and tying against France in Reinnes, France.
Dr. Merepeza participated for the fourth time in these Olympic Winter Games held in Sochi Russia. He was fully accredited as a team Chiropractor with the Albanian delegation who participated with two skiers in Sochi. It was a great experience, as the games were held for the first time in Russia. The weather was relatively warm in the city of Sochi (they have palm trees) and beautiful in the mountains. Dr. Merepeza enjoyed these games and the warmth of the Russian people and culture.