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Fabulous Fischer

Fischer claims sixth gold after leading Germans to victory

German kayakers Birgit Fischer and Katrin Wagner (right) power their way down the course during the women's K2, 500 meter run. Thomas Coex/AFP

PENRITH, Australia (CNNSI.com) -- Birgit Fischer won the women's four on Saturday to become the all-time leading medal-winner in Olympic kayaking.

The medal was Fischer's ninth as she won the event for the second straight time and for the third time in the last four Olympics. She tied swimmer Kristin Otto and Reiner Klimke of equestrian for the most golds by a German with six.

Fischer, 38, also extended her own record for the longest span between golds by a woman. Her first title came 20 years ago in Moscow in the K-1.

"The numbers of medals is simply not that important to me," Fischer said afterward. "I have another race tomorrow, so there won't be much celebrating tonight."

Knut Holmann alo earned the title of Norway's greatest summer Olympian as the Europeans dominated the paddling finals.

Overall, Europeans won all but three of the 18 medals awarded for the six finals Saturday. Cuba took a pair of silvers and Canada a bronze.

Italy's Antonio Rossi, who won golds in both K-2 events in Atlanta, defended his 1,000-meter title with Beniamino Bonomi.

"It was a great race," Rossi said. "I didn't think I would have gotten this far."

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Holmann won his second straight gold in the men's solo 1,000. It was his fifth Olympic medal, topping the career total of wrestler Jon Roenningen to become Norway's Summer Games leader.

"It was my plan to go out fast and find my rhythm so I could just float along until I reached the 500-meter mark," Holmann said. "It worked. I felt strong and I knew I was going to win it."

Finishing second to Holmann was Bulgaria's Petar Merkov, who may not get to keep his silver medal because of alleged substance abuse.

The International Canoe Federation has asked the International Olympic Committee to help track down results of tests taken at the Bulgarian national championships in late July.

ICF president Ulrich Feldhoff said he's "absolutely convinced" Merkov tested positive for a diuretic banned because it masks steroid use. Merkov is scheduled to compete in two more finals Sunday.

Angel Perez, the Cuban native who successfully appealed a decision he was ineligible to compete for the United States, finished sixth in the four-man kayak.

Germany got three other canoeing medals Saturday, including a gold from Andreas Dittmer in the men's 1,000-meter solo canoe to go with the one he won in the C2 in Atlanta.

"It was a perfect race," Dittmer said. "I couldn't keep up with the pace of the leaders in the beginning, so I decided to hold back, and then I saw the others fading toward the end and then I knew I would win. It was wonderful; I looked left and right and saw that I was in the clear."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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