A Thrill Like No Other

The Straits Times is celebrating outstanding Singaporeans selected for the 2024 ST Athlete of the Year award, backed by 100Plus. To get to know our athletes better, we asked them about their love for their sport, what they discovered about themselves in 2024 and if they are nervous when they compete. This is what Paralympic swimmer Yip Pin Xiu told Rohit Brijnath.

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Q What do you love about swimming?

A I started off loving swimming because it gave me such a huge sense of freedom being in the water. People could not see that I had a disability. I still love being in the water. I still love being able to exercise, being able to get my heart rate very high, being able to be fit and being able to impact so many lives.

Q In what way does winning become harder?

A When the pressure to win is really high, you think about it a lot more than you should. I think a healthy amount (of thinking) is when you do the right steps to win. The unhealthy amount is just thinking about it and not doing the right steps to get the win.

It has become more challenging over the years, but there are two sides to this. As I get older, I'm more equipped to understand the process. But also, the more experience I have, the more pressure I put on myself.

Q How much do you practise?