Public event to honour Yip Pin Xiu and other Paralympians

Yip Pin Xiu's Paralympic goldmedal win will be celebrated when she returns from Rio de Janeiro with the rest of the Team Singapore contingent.

Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Grace Fu revealed this in a Facebook post when she congratulated the swimmer yesterday afternoon.

Yip, 24, struck gold in the 100m backstroke S2 event yesterday morning (Singapore time) at the Olympics Aquatics Stadium in Rio by breaking her own world record with a time of 2min 7.09sec.

It was her second Paralympic triumph, after winning the gold medal in the 50m backstroke S2 at the Beijing Games in 2008.

Fu said that she was "very proud" of Yip, and added: "She mentioned that the swim was very tough, yet she gave her best. Because of her determination, we all got to hear Majulah Singapura at the Games.

"Her indomitable spirit is something we can all emulate and celebrate as #OneTeamSG.

"Some have asked if we have plans to celebrate her win, and the answer is 'yes'.

"When our Paralympians return after the Games, we will have a public celebration to honour their extraordinary achievements."

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Yip is expected to return to Singapore on the morning of Sept 21.

Fu was one of many who paid tribute to Yip, who suffers from muscular dystrophy.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong also wrote on Facebook: "(Yip's) amazing achievement reminds us that with hard work, determination and grit, we can overcome the odds and come out on top. Pin Xiu, you have made Singapore very proud today."

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Pride

President Tony Tan Keng Yam wrote: "Well done, Pin Xiu! Singapore is so proud of you.

"When I met Pin Xiu during her training in June, she was still very modest about her chances, but told me she will do her best. She certainly did her best today.

"I hope Pin Xiu's gold will be only the first of many pieces of good news we will hear from Rio in the coming week."

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Joseph Schooling, who won Singapore's first Olympic gold medal when he triumphed in Rio just 28 days before Yip, also shared a video of her race on his Facebook page, and congratulated her on her win.

Singapore Disability Sports Council (SDSC) president Dr Teo-Koh Sock Miang praised Yip, a final-year Singapore Management University social sciences undergraduate, for inspiring persons with disabilities to challenge themselves.

"Pin Xiu has blazed a trail for Singapore's para athletes," said Dr Teo- Koh, who is also chairman of the Singapore National Paralympic Council.

"Her spectacular win will inspire and motivate her fellow athletes to dream big and believe that everything is possible if you are willing to push yourself and train to achieve the goal of podium finish.

"Pin Xiu's win is also testament that the human spirit can triumph over limitations; and challenge all of us to change our perceptions about what persons with disabilities can and cannot do.

"I certainly hope persons with disabilities can look at Pin Xiu's achievement and be inspired and motivated to give sports a try.

"Truly, Pin Xiu's win showed us that impossible is possible when you dig deep within yourself and find that strength to finish the race when your entire body is screaming with pain."

This article was first published on Sept 11, 2016.
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