National swimmer and final-year SMU School of Social Sciences undergraduate Yip Pin Xiu made history on 10 September 10am (Singapore time) when she clocked a world record 2min 7.09sec to win the 100m backstroke (S2) final at the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

She finished ahead of China's Feng Yazhu (2:18.65) and Ukraine's Iryna Sotska (2:21.98) at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium to clinch Singapore's first medal of the Rio Paralympics.  She also broke the world record in the 50m backstroke with her split timing of 59.38s in the same race.

Behind the glory is undoubtedly a journey filled with struggles, determination and perseverance.  In her own words to fellow Paralympian and good friend Theresa Goh when the latter won Bronze medal in the 100m breaststroke SB4 event on Monday, 12 September (Singapore time): “Nobody knows our journey like us."

Pin Xiu won her first Paralympics medals in 2008 in Beijing where she clinched a gold (Singapore’s first ever!) in the 50m backstroke S3 and a silver in the 50m freestyle S3.  After the high of her Beijing triumphs, she took a year off racing to focus on school.  During that year, she had more time to spend with family and friends, and trained only four times a week, compared with the 12 she was clocking previously.

Her grades went up but so did her times.  In the end, her competitive drive saw her make a comeback into the game in 2010, resuming training at least 12 times a week.  She qualified for the London Paralympics after only a year of training, but, agonisingly, finished fourth in both her events.

Determined to make a big splash in Rio, Pin Xiu, who joined SMU in 2012 and received the SMU Outstanding Achievement in Student Life Award in the 2014 University Student Life Awards, deferred her studies from Term 2 of AY2015 to focus on training for Rio 2016.  The 24-year-old was also named The Straits Times’ Athlete of the Year 2015 in February this year.

In an interview with The Straits Times before heading to Rio, Pin Xiu said, “If I were doing it for myself, I wouldn't have continued this long.”

“I don’t think I’m extraordinary.  I’m just like every normal Singaporean… But I want to show Singaporeans that as long as you set your mind on something, regardless of your circumstances, you can find opportunities along the way and you can reach your goal… From a kid who didn't know much about para sports, to eventually becoming a Paralympian... I want to tell people that if you want it bad enough you can get there somehow.  I just hope that my actions are able to (inspire) other Singaporeans.”

You certainly have, Pin Xiu, and we’re extremely proud of your achievements!

(All photos courtesy of Sport Singapore)