When Aussie athletes compete on day 3 at the Paralympics

Australia has slipped to fourth in the medal tally with 6 goal, two silver and six bronze. China leads with eight gold.

The Steelers are back in action today against Japan, after holding off a fierce challenge from France to take out their must-win wheelchair rugby clash 50-48.

Five years on, Katja Dedekind was the same tearful, joyful mess again when told on TV she'd won a Paralympic bronze medal.

The 20-year-old Queenslander took bronze in the S13 100m backstroke, one of four medals that Australia won on day two of the Tokyo Games.

While Australia topped the medal tally after day one, it hit a gold pause on Thursday with a silver and three bronze.

Dedekind, who is visually impaired, burst into tears on TV at the Rio Games when told she'd won an unexpected bronze in the 100m backstroke.

On Thursday, the same news came with a bonus of a personal best time and she was once again overcome with emotion.

"Oh, that's awesome - a PB and a medal," she told the Seven Network.

"Five years on, I'm doing the same thing again.

"It's incredible, I just didn't know what I was going to be able to do coming into competition."

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Dedekind clocked one minute 6.49 seconds as American Gia Pergolini broke her own world record to win in 1:04.64, with Italian Carlotta Gilli 1.46 seconds behind in second.

The other Australian medal in the pool on Thursday went to Kiera Stephens, who won bronze in the SB9 100m breaststroke.

For a full wrap on Australia's day 2 of competition, click here.

Also on Thursday, track cyclist Darren Hicks won silver in the C2 individual pursuit after fastest qualifier Ewoud Vromont from Belgium was disqualified.

Hicks was third-fastest in qualifying and originally was riding for the bronze medal, but was elevated to the gold ride-off against French rider Alexandre Leaute.

- with Australian Associated Press