Fischer is thwarted in record bid
ATHENS, Greece -- German canoeist Birgit Fischer's bid for a record-equaling ninth Olympic title was thwarted by Hungary in the women's K2 500 meters final.
Fischer, 42, had to settle for a silver medal as Katalin Kovacs and Natasa Janics avenged Hungary's defeat by Germany in Friday's K4 500m final.
It was Janics' second gold of the morning after she also took victory in the K1 event.
Fischer, who won her eighth career gold medal on Friday, had been hoping to equal the record nine held by Russian gymnast Larissa Latynina, the most successful female Olympian of all time.
"Silver was good and nothing more was possible," said Fischer, won her first gold medal in Moscow in 1980.
Poland took the bronze medal in the event.
But there was success for Germany in the men's C1 500m as Andreas Dittmer won his third Olympic gold and Ronald Rauhe and Tim Wieskoetter won gold in the C2 500m.
Dittmer had been disappointed with his silver in Friday's C1 1,000m on Friday.
"There was a certain frustration there," said Dittmer. "I wanted to put everything into it as it could be my last Olympic race."
David Cal, who beat Dittmer on Friday, took silver with Russia's Maxim Opalev in third place.
In the women's K1 500m, Janics delighted the Hungarian fans by finishing ahead of defending champion Josefa Idem of Italy and Canada's Caroline Brunet.
In the men's K1 500m, Canada's Adam van Koeverden beat double world champion Nathan Baggaley of Australia to win the gold with Britain's Ian Wynne taking bronze.
China's Meng Guanliang and Yang Wenjun clinched the gold medal in the men's C2 500 in the closest final of the day ahead of Cuba and Russia.
Germany's Rauhe and Wieskoetter took the gold in the K2 where Australia finished second to give Baggaley his second silver medal of the morning.