The first medal goes to Germany: At the Paralympics in Tokyo, cyclist Denise Schindler won bronze on the track and won the first medal awarded in Japan across all sports.

Passionately cheered on by a German delegation led by DBS President Friedhelm Julius Beucher, the 35-year-old from Munich cleared the American Clara Brown (4: 01.523) in the race for third place in the 3000 meter pursuit this Wednesday with 3: 55.120 minutes. by.

"So many stones fell from my heart"

"The President himself yelled at me for bronze today," said Schindler: "He knew how important it is to me to finally get my medal on the track." She was therefore "incredibly happy", but also very relieved.

"I was under so much pressure, I was not available all day," she said: "In the end, so many stones fell from my heart, it belonged to the whole track." When asked what she wanted to reward herself with, said the "killer bee" called Schindler laughing: "With gummy bears."

Schindler, who slipped under a tram on an icy path at the age of two in her hometown of Chemnitz and lost a leg, won the fourth medal in her third Paralympic participation.

After two silver and one bronze medals on the road, it's the first on the track.

In the meantime, Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee, is again countering criticism in Japan.

The top corona advisor to the Japanese government, the physician Shigeru Omi, expressed a lack of understanding in parliament on Wednesday that Bach had traveled to Japan again for the opening ceremony of the Paralympics the evening before.

"I wonder why he came," said Omi, referring to the aggravated infection situation.

"If a greeting is necessary, why can't he do it online?" Says Omi.

Normal citizens who are supposed to work at home because of Corona asked themselves what Bach's visit should be.

After all, he had only just visited Tokyo.

Bach had previously stayed in Tokyo for the Olympic Games and had already caused criticism when he was seen on Tokyo's luxury shopping street Ginza after the Games.

There is a corona emergency in Tokyo, the infection situation has deteriorated drastically.

Experts compare the situation with a serious natural disaster.

According to the Japanese media, Bach did not have to be quarantined when he entered the country again.

The government made an exception for him, on the condition that Bach only stayed in certain places, such as the opening ceremony in the Olympic Stadium and his hotel, according to Japanese television reports.