There was no medal at the start. But there was praise from the national coach, who also sees potential for improvement in the coming days.
Although Germany didn’t manage to win a medal on the first day of the Paralympic Games, national coach Ute Schinkitz is optimistic about the next few days. “It happened just as we imagined,” she said. “We’ll think about something now.”
At the start, only one athlete from the German Disabled Sports Association, Tanja Scholz, made it to the final. She finished eighth in the 200-meter freestyle. “After the challenges she has had over the last two years, it’s just great that she’s even taking part – it wasn’t that long ago that the accident happened,” said Schinkitz about the 40-year-old, who was diagnosed with incomplete paraplegia after a riding accident. “We had hoped that she would make it to the final, and she did it.”
Praise for Hebmüller
One problem for Scholz was the water temperature of more than 26 degrees. “The spasms immediately set in in her legs. Then she swims like a robot. That’s not at all comparable to her performance in the training camp,” explained Schinkitz.
Paralympic debutant Philip Hebmüller was praised. “17 years old and for the first time in front of such a large crowd – you can only congratulate him,” said the national coach, who was also satisfied with the talent’s time in the 100-meter butterfly. And Verena Schott, who was eliminated early in the 50-meter race, had problems at the start. “She didn’t quite manage that. But it was only the start,” said Schinkitz.
Source: Stern
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