While the Singaporean swimmer’s talent and hard work began to shine through early in her career, her breakthrough came at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics, where she made history by winning Singapore’s first-ever gold medal in swimming. Since that historic moment in the Chinese capital, Yip Pin Xiu has continued to dominate the pool. Her performance at the 2016 Rio Paralympics, where she clinched two gold medals in the 100m and 50m backstroke S2, further cemented her status as one of the greatest Paralympic swimmers of all time. She repeated her success at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, winning another gold in the 100m backstroke S2, proving her enduring prowess and unyielding spirit.

“In my head, I don’t define myself as a person with a disability. It’s just a part of who I am,” says the 32-year-old who suffers from a neuromuscular disorder known as Charcot-Marie-Tooth, which gradually weakens the muscles. As a holder of two world records gears up for her fourth Paralympics, scheduled in Paris from August 28, she is not leaving any stone unturned. After winning a second gold medal in the European Open Championships in Madeira, she adds, “My main goal is Paris. All of these are just stepping stones for me to reach my peak goal. I’m not losing sight of it and not being complacent. I know I still need to work very hard and I’m going to do my best all the way to Paris.”

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