Birgit Fischer at 42 has canoed to gold today to make this the sixth Olympic Games she returns from taking each time at least one gold. She's the first woman to do this and has equalled Gerevich's record (see question (3) above). She had "definitely" retired after Sydney. Eight months ago, a photographer asked her to mount(?) a canoe for some shots and suddenly she got the feeling she'd like to try it once more. About six months ago she restarted training.
She was our all times best athlete already at Sydney. When asked this time about retirement she said she would make no promises this time. Well, she'll only be 46 next time...
Speaking about oldtimers: Ard had mentioned Ron Delaney above. If I'm not mistaken (that runner, Eamon Coughlan?, and the rider, Eddie Maken??, were 'only' world champions, weren't they?) he was the last Irish male athlete to win a gold medal, nearly 50 years ago. From today on, he's no longer the last male Irish athlete to have won a gold. I've seen that unexpected Irish gold with a lot of pleasure. And please, don't wait 48 years for the next one, O.K.?