Yip Pin Xiu Wins Paralympic Gold Medal In Swimming

Yip Pin Xiu Wins Paralympic Gold Medal In Swimming

Yip Pin Xiu has done what no other athlete or swimmer from Singapore has done in the Paralympic or Olympic Games – win the Paralympic Gold Medal.

Yip Pin Xiu beat a field of top class swimmers in the 50 metres backstroke on 15 September 2008 at the Beijing Paralympic Games to become a Paralympic champion and win a Paralympic Gold Medal for Singapore and herself.

16 year-old Yip Pin Xiu, coached by Ang Peng Siong, touched the wall at the end of her 50-metre backstroke swimming event in 58.75 seconds. Earlier in the morning, Yip Pin Xiu set a Paralympic world record in the same 50-metre backstroke swimming event in a time of 57.92 seconds.

Yip Pin Xiu's achievement was stunning considering that she was nursing a sorethroat before the Paralympic Gold medal win. Her win ensured that Singapore's national anthem was played at the Paralympic Games for the first time.

This is the second medal of the 13th Paralympic Games for Yip Pin Xiu after her silver medal win in the 50m freestyle (S3) on Saturday.

Yip Pin Xiu was quoted by to be grateful for all the help from the Singapore Disability Sports Council and the Singapore National Paralympic Council (SNPC), and reserved special praise for coach Ang, team-mate Theresa Goh, and her parents, dad Yip Chee Khiong and mum Margaret Chong.

Under the Singapore National Paralympic Council Achievement Awards scheme, Pin Xiu will receive $100,000 for her gold medal.

Congratulations Yip Pin Xiu! Singapore is proud of your fantastic gold medal achievement in swimming at the Paralympic Games!