Yip Pin Xiu is one of Singapore’s greatest sportswomen. She is a champion who embodies Olympic spirit and the successful habits outlined in Alex Hill‘s Centennials.
As Singapore’s first and only Paralympic gold medallist, she speaks about the power of resilience. With 7 Paralympic gold medals, 7 world titles and 2 world records to her name, Yip’s story is one of inspiration and leadership.
Yip’s dreams were initially dashed at 13 years old. She was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy and lost the ability to walk. It was a cruel twist of fate for this talented swimmer. But Yip refused to be beaten by fickle misfortune. Her diagnosis only inspired a new sense of purpose and calling in competitive swimming, marking the onset of an illustrious career. Her eventual debut on the international stage was triumphant, securing 2 gold medals and a bronze. A new champion was leading Singapore to unparalled sporting glory.
Yip’s star only rose further at the 2008 Beijing Games. She continued to achieve a special three-peat of back-to-back titles in the S2 50m and 100m from Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024. She won her first Paralympic gold and earned the Pingat Jasa Gemilang (Meritorious Service Medal) in recognition of her success. She went a step further in Rio in 2016, shattering the world record in the 100m backstroke category. In Tokyo in 2021, she cemented her status as a sporting legend with 2 more gold medals. Yip claimed her first gold in Paris 2024 in the S2 100m backstroke and won the S2 50m backstroke final to claim her second gold at the Paris Paralympics. She now has seven golds and a silver across five editions of the Paralympic Games.
Outside of the pool, Yip Pin Xiu is the author of The Mermaid Who Became a Champion. And her leadership in the area of diversity and inclusion saw her sworn in as Singapore’s youngest Nominated Member of Parliament.
Yip Pin Xiu is more than just a sporting champion. She is a role model for young girls and an ambassador for Singapore on the world stage.
