Yip Pin Xiu blazed a trail for Para sport in Singapore when she became her country’s first Paralympic gold medallist in history at Beijing 2008.
For her achievement she was awarded the Public Service Medal and followed it up with her first world title in 2010. Subsequently, she would receive the Singapore Youth Award in 2010.
However for the London 2012 Paralympics her favourite event, the 50m backstroke S3, was taken off of the programme. It was subsequently reinstated in time for the 2013 World Championships, but Xiu lost out to Ukraine’s Olga Sviderska on her debut.
She would then miss out on the podium completely in 2015, but kept making history out of the pool. In May 2015, she became the first Para athlete to be inducted into Singapore’s Sports Hall of Fame and was also welcomed into the Women’s Hall of Fame in 2014.
After being reclassified to the S2 she went onto reclaim the historic Paralympic title she had won in 2008 in the 50m backstroke and did so in a world record time. She also claimed gold in the 100m backstroke with a new world record.
Results
| Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's 50 m Breaststroke SB3 | Final Round | 5 | ||
| Women's 50 m Freestyle S4 | Heats | 10 | ||
| Women's 100 m Freestyle S4 | Heats | 10 | ||
| Women's 150 m Individual Medley SM4 | Final Round | 6 | ||
| Women's 200 m Freestyle S4 | Final Round | 7 | ||
| Women's 50 m Backstroke S4 | Final Round | 6 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's 50 m Freestyle S3 | Final Round | 1 | ||
| Women's 50 m Freestyle S3 | Heat 2 | 1 | ||
| Women's 50 m Backstroke S3 | Final Round | 2 | ||
| Women's 50 m Backstroke S3 | Heat 2 | 1 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's 50 m Backstroke S3 | Final Round | 1 | ||
| Women's 50 m Backstroke S3 | Heat 2 | 1 | ||
| Women's 50 m Freestyle S3 | Final Round | 2 | ||
| Women's 50 m Freestyle S3 | Heat 2 | 1 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's 100 m Freestyle S3 | Heat 1 | 2012-09-03 | 2 | |
| Women's 100 m Freestyle S3 | Final Round | 2012-09-03 | 4 | |
| Women's 50 m Freestyle S3 | Final Round | 2012-09-07 | 4 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's 50 m Backstroke S3 | Heat 1 | 2013-08-15 | 1 | |
| Women's 50 m Backstroke S3 | Final 1 | 2013-08-15 | 2 | |
| Women's 100 m Freestyle S3 | Heat 2 | 2013-08-16 | 4 | |
| Women's 100 m Freestyle S3 | Final 1 | 2013-08-16 | 5 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's 100 m Freestyle S3 | Final 1 | 2015-07-14 | 5 | |
| Women's 50 m Freestyle S4 | Heat 2 | 2015-07-14 | 8 | |
| Women's 100 m Freestyle S3 | Heat 1 | 2015-07-14 | 6 | |
| Women's 50 m Freestyle S4 | Final 1 | 2015-07-14 | 8 | |
| Women's 50 m Backstroke S3 | Final 1 | 2015-07-18 | 4 | |
| Women's 50 m Backstroke S3 | Heat 1 | 2015-07-18 | 4 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's 100 m Backstroke S2 | Final Round | 2016-09-09 | 1 | |
| Women's 50 m Backstroke S2 | Final Round | 2016-09-15 | 1 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's 100 m Backstroke S2 | Final 1 | 2019-09-11 | 1 | |
| Women's 50 m Backstroke S2 | Final 1 | 2019-09-13 | 1 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's 100 m Backstroke S2 | Heat 2 | 2021-08-25 | 1 | |
| Women's 100 m Backstroke S2 | Final | 2021-08-25 | 1 | |
| Women's 50 m Backstroke S2 | Final | 2021-09-02 | 1 | |
| Women's 50 m Backstroke S2 | Heat 2 | 2021-09-02 | 1 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's 100 m Backstroke S2 | Final 1 | 2022-06-14 | 1 | |
| Women's 50 m Freestyle S3 | Final 1 | 2022-06-16 | 4 | |
| Women's 50 m Freestyle S3 | Heat 1 | 2022-06-16 | 5 | |
| Women's 50 m Backstroke S2 | Final 1 | 2022-06-17 | 1 |
Related videos
#ChangeStartsWithSport - Yip Pin Xiu: A Life Changed by Para Swimming 💪🏊♀️
Discover the inspiring journey of Yip Pin Xiu in this episode of #ChangeStartsWithSport. Yip, a Singaporean backstroke swimmer and five-time Paralympic gold medallist, has made history in the world of Para swimming.
Crowned Sportswoman of the Year at the Singapore Disability Sports Awards 2022 for the third time, Yip's achievements have propelled the recognition of Para athletes in Singapore. At the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, Yip clinched two gold medals in the women's 100m backstroke S2 and the women's 50m backstroke S2, showcasing her unparalleled talent and determination.
Join us as we celebrate Yip Pin Xiu's extraordinary journey in the world of Para sport. 🌟🏊♀️
The International Paralympic Committee's vision is to make for an inclusive world through Para sport. Our mission is to lead the Paralympic Movement, oversee the delivery of the Paralympic Games and support members to enable Para athletes to achieve sporting excellence.
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