Kayaker / Photographer

Birgit Fischer is a six time German Olympic kayaker who won eight Olympic gold medals (1980, ’88 for East Germany, and ’92, ’96, 2000, ’04 for Germany). She has been both the youngest and oldest-ever Olympic canoeing champion (ages 18 and 42). In 2004 she was voted German sportswoman of the year. She also won 38 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships medals between 1978 and 2005, including 28 golds.