Birgit Fischer facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Birgit Fischer

Fischer in 2010
Personal information
Birth name	Birgit Fischer
Nationality	German
Born	(1962-02-25) 25 February 1962 (age 63) Brandenburg an der Havel, East Germany
Height	172 cm
Weight	69 kg
Sport
Sport	Canoe sprint
Medal record Women's canoe sprint Olympic Games Representing  East Germany Gold 1980 Moscow K-1 500 m Gold 1988 Seoul K-2 500 m Gold 1988 Seoul K-4 500 m Silver 1988 Seoul K-1 500 m Representing  Germany Gold 1992 Barcelona K-1 500 m Gold 1996 Atlanta K-4 500 m Gold 2000 Sydney K-2 500 m Gold 2000 Sydney K-4 500 m Gold 2004 Athens K-4 500 m Silver 1992 Barcelona K-4 500 m Silver 1996 Atlanta K-2 500 m Silver 2004 Athens K-2 500 m World Championships Representing  East Germany Gold 1978 Belgrade K-4 500 m Gold 1979 Duisburg K-4 500 m Gold 1981 Nottingham K-1 500 m Gold 1981 Nottingham K-2 500 m Gold 1981 Nottingham K-4 500 m Gold 1982 Belgrade K-1 500 m Gold 1982 Belgrade K-2 500 m Gold 1982 Belgrade K-4 500 m Gold 1983 Tampere K-1 500 m Gold 1983 Tampere K-2 500 m Gold 1983 Tampere K-4 500 m Gold 1985 Mechelen K-1 500 m Gold 1985 Mechelen K-2 500 m Gold 1985 Mechelen K-4 500 m Gold 1987 Duisburg K-1 500 m Gold 1987 Duisburg K-2 500 m Gold 1987 Duisburg K-4 500 m Representing  Germany Gold 1993 Copenhagen K-1 500 m Gold 1993 Copenhagen K-4 500 m Gold 1994 Mexico City K-1 500 m Gold 1994 Mexico City K-4 500 m Gold 1995 Duisburg K-4 500 m Gold 1997 Dartmouth K-2 200 m Gold 1997 Dartmouth K-2 500 m Gold 1997 Dartmouth K-2 1000 m Gold 1997 Dartmouth K-4 200 m Gold 1997 Dartmouth K-4 500 m Gold 1998 Szeged K-4 500 m Silver 1994 Mexico City K-2 200 m Silver 1994 Mexico City K-4 200 m Silver 1995 Duisburg K-4 200 m Silver 1998 Szeged K-2 500 m Silver 1998 Szeged K-2 1000 m Silver 1999 Milan K-4 500 m Bronze 1993 Copenhagen K-1 5000 m Bronze 1994 Mexico City K-2 500 m Bronze 2005 Zagreb K-2 200 m Bronze 2005 Zagreb K-4 1000 m

Birgit Fischer (German pronunciation: [ˈbɪʁɡɪt ˈfɪʃɐ]; born 25 February 1962) is a German former kayaker, who has won eight gold medals over six different Olympic Games, a record she shares with Aladár Gerevich and Isabell Werth, spanning seven Olympiads: twice representing East Germany (interrupted by the boycott of 1984), then four times representing the reunited nation. After both the 1988 and 2000 games, she announced her retirement, only to return for the subsequent games. She has been both the youngest- and oldest-ever Olympic canoeing champion (ages 18 and 42). In 2004, she was chosen as the German sportswoman of the year.

Fischer was born in Brandenburg an der Havel, then in East Germany. She attended an ASK (army sports club) boarding school in Potsdam, and worked as a sports instructor in the National People's Army, attaining a rank of major by the time of German reunification in 1990. She was married from 1984 to 1993 to canoeist Jörg Schmidt, silver medalist in the C-1 1000 m event at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul. She lives with their two children in Brandenburg. In 1999 she stood unsuccessfully as a candidate for the FDP in the European Parliament election. Fischer's niece, Fanny, competed for Germany at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, winning a gold in the K-4 500 m event. Fischer's brother Frank won nine world championship medals between 1981 and 1986.

She also won 38 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships medals between 1978 and 2005, including 28 golds. Fischer's career medal count was surpassed by Hungary's Katalin Kovács at the 2011 championships in Szeged.

Fischer is also a photographer and displays works through the Art of the Olympians.

See also

In Spanish: Birgit Fischer para niños

• List of multiple Olympic gold medalists
• List of multiple Olympic gold medalists in one event
• List of multiple Olympic medalists
• List of multiple Summer Olympic medalists
• List of athletes with the most appearances at Olympic Games