In this biography
Quick facts
- Born
- 10 January 1992
- Birthplace
- Singapore
- Country
- Singapore
- Nationality
- Singaporean
- Known for
- Winning Singapore’s first Paralympic gold and seven Paralympic titles across four Games
- Sport
- Para swimming
- Classification
- S2 backstroke
- Paralympic medals
- Seven gold · one silver
- Public service
- Nominated Member of Parliament, 2018–2020
Why this life matters
Yip’s career joins sustained world-class performance with public advocacy, changing both the medal record and the visibility of disability sport in Singapore.
Timeline
Key moments
Singapore’s first Paralympic gold
Won the 50-metre backstroke S3 in Beijing and added a freestyle silver.
Double champion in Rio
Won the 50-metre and 100-metre backstroke S2, both in world-record times.
Entered Parliament
Began a term as a Nominated Member of Parliament and advocated for inclusive sport.
Retained both titles in Tokyo
Won another 50-metre and 100-metre backstroke double.
Completed a third consecutive double
Won both backstroke S2 events in Paris, taking her Paralympic gold total to seven.
Freedom in the water
Yip Pin Xiu began swimming as a child and found that the water gave her freedom of movement as muscular dystrophy affected her ability to walk. She entered international Para swimming young and reached the Paralympic podium at Beijing 2008.
Three consecutive backstroke doubles
After classification changes and events moving in and out of the programme, Yip won both S2 backstroke titles at Rio 2016. She repeated the double at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024, becoming a seven-time Paralympic champion and Singapore’s most decorated Paralympian.
Performance and public voice
Yip has used the attention around her medals to argue for greater recognition, access and support for Para athletes. Her term as a Nominated Member of Parliament extended that work into public policy, making advocacy an integral part of how her sporting career is understood.
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions about Yip Pin Xiu
- Who is Yip Pin Xiu?
- Yip Pin Xiu is a seven-time Paralympic champion swimmer. Yip’s career joins sustained world-class performance with public advocacy, changing both the medal record and the visibility of disability sport in Singapore.
- What is Yip Pin Xiu best known for?
- Yip Pin Xiu is best known for winning Singapore’s first Paralympic gold and seven Paralympic titles across four Games.
- When and where was Yip Pin Xiu born?
- Yip Pin Xiu was born on 10 January 1992 in Singapore.
Sources and further reading
How this biography was checked
Core dates and offices are checked against the sources below. This profile was last reviewed on 7 September 2026.
