Disappointment for Team Germany: first day of competition without a medal!

Disappointment for Team Germany: first day of competition without a medal!

On the eighth day of competition at the World Games in Chengdu, it was a wasted day for the German team, which had to go home without a medal for the first time. In the speed skating over 1000 meters, Anna-Laethisia Schimek was only 15 thousandths of a second behind the bronze medal, which was won by the Belgian Fran Vanhoutte. Gold and silver went to Colombia's Maria Fernanda Timms Ariza and Spain's Jhoan Sebastian Guzman Bitar, who triumphed in the men's category. Nils Bühnemann, also active in speed skating, was eliminated in the semi-finals, while Ron Pucklitzsch had to throw in the towel in the preliminary round. It was a day of competition full of disappointments for the German athletes, who came with high expectations and now have to hope for the next competition.

Larissa Gaiser, who competed in the 10,000 meter elimination race, was able to hold her own a little bit with a fifth place. Nils Bühnemann took sixth place in this discipline. In this category, Colombian athletes Gabriela Rueda and Juan Jacobo Mantilla Pinilla secured the gold medals.

New challenges in speed climbing

In speed climbing, a new discipline at the World Games, the German team competed in Speed ​​Single 4. Mina Schultz was the only German athlete to be eliminated in the seeding heat, while Leander Carmanns reached the quarter-final round, but found the end of his journey there. China's Long Jian Guo won gold.

The German canoe polo team, on the other hand, was able to celebrate success. The women won their semi-final against Denmark with a golden goal from Kathi Grünewald. The men beat Poland 5-2 and will now face the team from Great Britain in the semi-finals. The Ultimate Frisbee players also had an exciting game, but were defeated by Canada 9:13 in the semifinals and are now fighting for bronze against France.

Tragic news from Gaza

While medals are being fought for in Chengdu, there are worrying reports from Gaza of ongoing humanitarian crises. Israel has announced a "tactical pause in military activity" to allow the delivery of aid, which came after international pressure. Since October 2023, many people have died from malnutrition, including many children, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. Over 100 humanitarian organizations are calling for an end to the blockade and an immediate ceasefire. Amid this devastating situation, many Palestinians are waiting in long lines for food aid. Worryingly, reports of severely malnourished children highlight the reality - including little Muhammad, who urgently needs specialized nutrition due to his life-threatening malnutrition.

These contrasting events - the competitive spirit in Chengdu and the misery in Gaza - show how close joy and suffering lie and how important it is to look at both sides of the coin.