The Hindu : Sport / Olympic Games : Janics stops Fischer at eight

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Aug 29, 2004

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Sport - Olympic Games

Janics stops Fischer at eight

SCHINIAS, AUG. 28. Natasa Janics wasn't born when Germany's Birgit Fischer won her first canoeing gold medal in 1980. On Saturday, the young Hungarian denied Fischer a chance of a ninth gold — and maybe set out on a medal run of her own.

Less than 70 minutes after winning the 500m single kayak final, the 22-year-old joined Katalin Kovacs in paddling past the 42-year-old Fischer and fellow German Carolin Leonhardt over the last half of the 500m pairs event. Poland took bronze.

The Germans' second place was the fourth silver in Fischer's career, to go with her eight golds. Fischer's most recent victory came in Friday's four-person kayak final — a close finish over a Hungarian squad that included Kovacs.

Fischer and Leonhardt paddled over to Kovacs and Janics to exchange congratulatory kisses, then the victors paddled past a grandstand brimming with jubilant, flag-waving, drum-beating, singing Hungarians, renowned for their support of their flatwater canoe and kayak racers. Janics continued to celebrate when her boat arrived at the dock by jumping into the water. Earlier, she had been nearly as exuberant following her single kayak victory over the defending gold and silver medallists, Josefa Idem of Italy and Caroline Brunet of Canada

She screamed as she hugged her coach, then jumped up and down, flailing both arms, when her name was called while she stood atop the medal stand.

Dittmer wins

Meanwhile, Germany's Andreas Dittmer got his revenge on David Cal of Spain, beating him in the 500m single kayak final.

A day after being surprised by the Spaniard's fast start in the 1,000m final, Andreas Dittmer of Germany made his usual strong finish matter to take the sprint gold.

Dittmer defeated Cal by 0.34 seconds, then let his head drop and clenched his left fist. Russia's Maxim Opalev took bronze. — AP

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