Kayaker Josefa Idem is first woman to compete in 8 Olympics

Windsor, England: Italian kayaker Josefa Idem became the first woman to compete in eight Olympic Games — and marked the occasion on Tuesday by upstaging a host of younger rivals to qualify for the flagship 500-meter K-1 final.

The 47-year-old Idem, who first competed at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, when she competed for Germany, won the third semi-final to stay on course for a second Olympic gold — after Sydney 12 years ago.

But there was disappointment for another veteran champion, Katrin Wagner-Augustin of Germany, who ended fourth in the same semi-final to miss Thursday's final. Wagner-Augustin has won Olympic golds in the double and four, but never as an individual.

The 47-year-old Italian kayaker has also qualified for the flagship 500-meter K-1 final.

Danuta Kozak of Hungary was the quickest qualifier by nearly a second.

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