History was made at the Schinias Centre in Athens today as German kayaker Birgit Fischer won her eighth Olympic gold medal.
The 42-year-old took today’s top prize in the K4 500 metres, adding the medal to a collection she started 24 years ago when she won the K1 500 metres in Moscow.
Her success in the Russian capital made her the youngest canoe champion in Olympic history at 18.
And, when she won yet another gold in Sydney, she became the only woman to win gold medals 20 years apart.
In total she has 11 medals, including three silvers, and could add to her collection in the K2 event tomorrow.