Paris Paralympics 2024 YIP STILL GETS A 'KICK' FOR 5TH GAMES

Team Singapore's athletes kick off their campaign at the Paralympic Games in Paris on Aug 28, when the 10-member contingent aim to deliver brilliant and inspiring moments on para sports' biggest stage. In the first of ST's Paralympic series, swimmer Yip Pin Xiu talks about the defining moment in her illustrious career.

- Melvyn Teoh

Anywhere in Singapore, any mention of para sport and swimmer Yip Pin Xiu's name will inevitably come up.

The 32-year-old, whose burgeoning trophy cabinet includes five Paralympic gold medals, is easily one of the country's most recognisable para-athletes.

Behind all her success, said Yip, is one moment that defines her career and set her on this path.

"Rio 2016 really was the point for me, where it kind of showed me what consistency looks like. After winning in Beijing (2008), I took some time off, went to study, and didn't really know what I wanted to do. It took me a long time to realise that I still wanted to chase glory for my country," said the veteran swimmer, who has Charcot-MarieTooth disease which causes the progressive loss of muscle tissue and touch.

"Winning a medal and breaking the world record - It's like the one big defining moment that showed that, at that point in time, I was older than I was in Beijing and I managed to swim faster than I ever did.