5 things to know about Yip Pin Xiu, Singapore's six-time Paralympic gold medallist

SINGAPORE: Singapore swim star Yip Pin Xiu has notched a remarkable three-peat of Paralympic golds in the women's 100m backstroke S2, after emerging victorious at the Paris Games on Friday (Aug 30).

The 32-year-old previously won gold at the 2016 and 2021 Paralympics, and is also the world record-holder.

Here's what you should know about Singapore's most decorated Paralympian.

1. A love for the water, since young

Yip was born with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, which causes the progressive loss of muscle tissue and touch. She has been wheelchair-bound from her early teens.

She started swimming when she was five, as a weekly family activity with her brothers.

After being talent-scouted, she began to swim competitively at the age of 12.

"There are no obstacles, no hindrances. I can do what anybody else can do. It (the water) was where I truly found myself," she has said.

2. Overcoming discrimination

Growing up, Yip faced a number of challenges. 

People would stare at her on the street and some classmates would ostracise her while teachers turned a blind eye.

"Primary 1 to Primary 4 was a bit tough because when kids are younger, they don't know how to react to different people. As long as somebody is different from them, they treat them differently," she said in a podcast last year.

"I had to go through different things, but because of all this, it made me really tough."

3. Making history for Singapore

After representing Singapore at a number of international meets, Yip made her Paralympic debut at Beijing 2008.

There, she won gold in the 50m backstroke S3 and took silver in the 50m freestyle S3 events. 

That was Singapore's first-ever Paralympic gold.

A public outcry then erupted after it emerged that athletes back then received S$100,000 (US$76,800) for a Paralympic gold, under the Singapore National Paralympic Council’s (SNPC) Athlete’s Achievement Award Programme (AAAP). 

The reward for Olympic gold is S$1 million.

Today, the reward for a Paralympic gold medal is S$500,000. 

4. An incredible resume

Yip was only getting started at the Beijing Games. 

After missing out on the podium at the 2012 London Paralympics, she bounced back by winning two gold medals at Rio 2016 in Brazil.

Competing in the 100m backstroke S2, she set a world record time of 2:07.09. Her split timing of 59.38 in the first lap of the event was also a world record time.

Days later, she would also triumph in the 50m backstroke S2 and become the first Singaporean athlete to win two golds at a single Paralympics.

At the Tokyo Paralympics three years ago, she retained her titles in both events.

Yip also has a clutch of world championships and Asian Para Games medals to her name.

5. An inspiration in and out of the pool

Yip is a recipient of the Pingat Jasa Gemilang (Meritorious Service Medal) and she served as a Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) from late 2018 to mid-2020. 

During her time as NMP, she spoke about the need for more integration and inclusion in Singapore sports.

"I voice my dream of a Singapore where sports is a united front for Singaporeans, not separated into disability or able-bodied sports," she said in 2019.

“It is a dream that already has (gathered) ground globally and one that I hope Singapore will join in.”

Catch Team Singapore at the Paralympic Games Paris 2024 live and on-demand on mewatch for free at mewatch.sg/paris2024.