Skip to main content
12221
Back to International Paralympic Committee homepage Go to Official website of World Para Swimming
Contrast:
High Contrast
Normal Contrast
Enlargement:
Larger Font Size
Default Font Size
Smaller Font Size
Official website of World Para Swimming
    • Home
    • News
    • Events
    • Athletes
    • Results, Rankings & Records
    • Videos
    • Classification
    • Anti Doping
    • Education
    • About
    • Newsletter
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Youtube
    • Instagram
    • News
    • Blogs
    • Videos

    Yip Pin Xiu, a voice for Para sports in Singapore

    24.05.2019

    Three-time Paralympic champions becomes Member of Parliament

    © •
    By Amp Media | For World Para Swimming
    Listen to this page using ReadSpeaker

    A three-time Paralympic champion and world record holder, Yip Pin Xiu has long been seen as a face for disability sports in her home country.

    The 27-year-old recently took her influence from the pool to parliament, becoming a Nominated Member of Parliament in Singapore last September. She is the youngest to take up the role since the scheme was introduced in the city-state in 1990, as a means to provide non-partisan views during parliamentary debates.

    It is not a role she ever fathomed playing, Yip admitted. But there was just something about being given this stage that drew her to what can be a nerve-wracking part to play.

    She said: “In the years that I’ve been swimming, there are two things that I’m happy I’ve done. One is winning medals. The other is I’ve helped create more awareness for Para sports in Singapore.

    “People understand it a bit more now and know that it exists, and I hope to be able to continue doing that. So when I was given a platform to do it even better, I took it so that I can help Para sports grow in Singapore.”

    An impassioned speech in March – one she was “super duper nervous” about – aptly illustrates this fire in her belly. In it, she called for greater commitment to inclusive sports in Singapore, as well as better integration between able-bodied and Para sports. Her challenge to lawmakers: do not be stumbled by looking at one’s disability before considering ability.

    Her passion stems from the challenges that she has personally faced and tried to overcome, as one of the pioneers of Para sports in Singapore.

    “I don’t see myself as a role model,” said Yip, who finished the World Series in her home city with a silver in the women’s 50m backstroke on Sunday night.

    “What I feel is a responsibility to give back to society, to continue advocating for Para sports, and help (it) grow. Sports has given me so much in life. I don’t only want to give back to the Para community. I do hope to see a Singapore where everyone lives a more active and healthier lifestyle.”

    Para sports has earned much greater visibility in Singapore over the past decade, since Yip became the island’s first Paralympic champion at the Beijing 2008 Games. She, together with compatriot and fellow Paralympic medallist Theresa Goh, are among the country’s most recognisable athletes.

    Said Yip: “When I first started in 2008, people didn’t really know that there was such a thing as the Paralympics. Now we’ve reached this point where there are more athletes, more achievements being made.

    “It’s very healthy growth. It’s not super fast, but it’s slow and steady and one day we’ll get where we want to be. I don’t know where is the place that we want to be, but it’s always progress.”

    Yip is targeting a fourth Paralympics at the Tokyo Games in 2020, in the hopes that a Games held in Asia will mean the ability to compete with family in the stands.

    “It’s been a while since a (Paralympic) Games has been so close to home. It’ll be really special to have my family there supporting me,” said Yip, who is working with a new coach.

    “I’m preparing with a different set of challenges this time, and I think there’s a lot more work (to be done) leading up to Tokyo. I’m going in really hopeful.”

    Related News
    Daniel Dias takes on Tokyo 2020 manga style!
    Sophie Pascoe ends Singapore meet on high
    Gold rush for Sophie Pascoe
    Record wins make a splash in Singapore
    World Series land in Asia for first time
    • Tweet
      • print
      • send
    LATEST NEWS
    Nadezhda Fedorova suspended for anti-doping violation 05.08.2019 Nadezhda Fedorova suspended for anti-doping violation
    Nottwil 2019: USA top table as Junior Worlds conclude 05.08.2019 Nottwil 2019: USA top table as Junior Worlds conclude
    Nottwil 2019: Breathless third day 04.08.2019 Nottwil 2019: Breathless third day
    Nottwil 2019: Noah Malone makes his way 03.08.2019 Nottwil 2019: Noah Malone makes his way
    Vote for July’s Athlete of the Month 02.08.2019 Vote for July’s Athlete of the Month
    More news...following the link
    Worldwide Paralympic Partners
    Go to Atos partner page
    Go to Bridgestone partner page
    Go to OttoBock partner page
    Go to Panasonic partner page
    Go to Samsung partner page
    Go to Toyota partner page
    Go to Visa partner page
    International Partners
    Go to Allianz partner page
    Go to BP partner page
    Go to Citi partner page
    • FAQ
    • Privacy
    • Imprint
    • Jobs
    Powered by Go to Atos. Worldwide IPC partner page
    The Paralympic Games
    Summer Games
    Winter Games
    Sochi 2014
    Rio 2016
    All the results & medallist since 1960
    Games video archive
    About the IPC
    Who we are
    Anti-Doping
    Medical
    Partners
    IPC Strategic Plan 2015-2018
    IPC Handbook
    Publications and Documents
    Media Centre
    News
    Features & Interviews
    The Paralympian
    Videos
    Athlete of the Month
    Media Office
    Sports
    Summer Sports
    Winter Sports
    Biographies
    NPCS
    Africa
    America
    Asia
    Europe
    Oceania
    Go to International Paralympic Committee homepage
    Official Website of the Paralympic Movement • IPC
    Homepage
    Paralympic Games
    The IPC
    Results, Ranking & Records
    Media Centre
    Videos
    Sports
    International Paralympic Committee (IPC)
    Adenauerallee 212-214, 53113 Bonn, Germany
    Telephone: +49-228-2097-200 • Fax: +49-228-2097-209 • E-mail: info@paralympic.org
    04:24:56