Birgit Fischer: Superlative Olympian

“Youngest,” “oldest,” “most,” and, finally, “greatest”: all of these superlatives have applied to German kayaker Birgit Fischer at one time or another. At age 18 she became the youngest-ever Olympic canoeing-kayaking champion when she won the gold medal in the 500-metre women’s singles kayak event at the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow; 24 years later, at age 42, she became canoeing’s oldest Olympic champion as a member of the winning team in the 500-metre women’s...