Over the course of three glorious decades, German kayaker Birgit Fischer put together the finest career her sport has ever seen. Eight times a gold medallist at the six Games in which she appeared, Fischer regards Barcelona 1992 as the pinnacle of her Olympic odyssey.

Birgit Fischer is a kayaking legend and one of the greatest Olympic athletes of all time. During his Olympic career she has claimed 12 Olympic medals (8 golds and 4 silvers), and she has competed in 6 different Olympic Games. Fischer is the most decorated kayaking athlete and the only woman to have won Olympic medals 20 years apart. Birgit Fischer (GDR, GER) - Canoe Kayak Flatwater - Moscow 1980, Seoul 1988, Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000

Birgit Fischer’s achievements in kayaking make her one of the greatest Olympic athletes of all time. She is also the only woman to win Olympic medals 20 years apart.

Kayaking legend Birgit Fischer team with Katrin Wagner to achieve Olympic victory, claiming the K2 500m Olympic title. The German duo crosses the finish line in 1 minute 56.88 seconds, followed closely by the Hungarian pair, Katalin Kovacs and Szilvia Szabo. Aneta Pastuszka and Beata Soko?owska of Poland take the bronze medal home. Canoe Sprint K2 500m Women's Final - Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics - GER, HUN, POL

Kayaking legend Birgit Fischer team with Katrin Wagner to achieve Olympic victory, claiming the K2 500m Olympic title. The German duo crosses the finish line in 1 minute 56.88 seconds, followed closely by the Hungarian pair, Katalin Kovacs and Szilvia Szabo. Aneta Pastuszka and Beata Soko?owska of Poland take the bronze medal home. Canoe Sprint K2 500m Women's Final - Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics - GER, HUN, POL

A closer look at German veteran kayaker Birgit Fischer, who competed at six Olympic Games and won an incredible eight gold medals.

Germany's Sven Fischer wins the 10km, leaving the 2nd and 3rd places to the Norwegian Halvard Hanevold and Frode Andresen

In the 12.5 km pursuit, French Vincent Defrasne wins the gold medal by 2.7 seconds in an exciting finish. Defrasne completes the course in 35:20.2, triumphing over 5 time Olympic gold medallist Ole Einar Bjoerndalen, who settles this time for silver, capturing his 8th Olympic medal. The bronze medal is received by German Sven Fischer. Biathlon 12.5Km Pursuit Men's Final - Turin 2006 Winter Olympics - Vincent Defrasne (FRA), Ole Einar Bjorndalen (NOR), Sven Fischer (GER)

London 2012 - Joachim Fischer and Christinna Pedersen of Denmark battle Indonesian duo Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir for bronze in the Badminton Mixed Doubles. Watch a full replay of the match.