Paris 2024: Yip Pin Xiu achieves backstroke double for third straight time at the Paralympic Games

By Nicole Chia

Yip Pin Xiu conquered the pressure of expectation and asserted her dominance in the pool with a blazing victory in the 50m backstroke S2 at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games on 31 August (Paris time). Her win at the La Defense Arena cements her status as a double champion for the third successive Games – the 32-year-old also triumphed in the 100m backstroke S2 two days ago.

Yip Pin Xiu won gold in the 50m backstroke S2 event for the third successive Games at Paris 2024. Credit: SportSG/Eng Chin An

Her time of 1min 5.99sec in the 50m backstroke S2 final put her nearly three seconds ahead of runner-up Haidee Viviana Aceves Perez of Mexico (1:08.96), while Teresa Perales of Spain was third in 1:10.95.

"This achievement means a lot to me. Being in the Paris Paralympic Games and it being the third win in a row and a three-peat, the pressure coming in was really high and I am very grateful to everyone who has helped me along the way," said Yip, noting she was more composed before the 50m backstroke S2 final.

"In the first race, I didn't execute one part of it very well. So I knew that coming in (today) I needed to stick to the race plan, be a bit more calm and collected, and make adjustments along the way. I think having been swimming for such a long time, I really had the experience from all my races to be able to do that. I'm just glad that all the 20 years of experience really paid off today."

Entering the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, Yip was the fastest swimmer in the 50m backstroke S2 this year with her 1:04.89 effort at the Citi Para Swimming World Series Singapore 2024 in May. In Paris, she also topped the morning heats in 1:05.06.

Yip Pin Xiu during the 50m backstroke S2 final of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Credit: SportSG/Jeremy Lee

Yip won the 100m backstroke S2 by just 0.06 seconds on 29 August, but was unquestionably a cut above in her second final of these Games. Though she started the race slightly behind Aceves Perez, the Singaporean caught up at around the halfway mark and surged ahead to bag Singapore’s second gold of the Paris Games.

Yip Pin Xiu is all smiles after winning the 50m backstroke S2 final at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Credit: SNPC/Dyan Tjhia

Her haul of Paralympic medals now comprises seven golds and a silver. She made history in 2008 by becoming Singapore’s first Paralympic champion, emerging victorious in the 50m backstroke S3 event. She also placed second in the 50m freestyle S3 event at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games. In 2015, Yip was reclassified to an S2 swimmer and has since been untouchable in the 50m and 100m S2 backstroke events. In addition to her remarkable three-peat at the last three editions of the Paralympic Games, she is the three-time world champion in both events. She also holds the world record of 59.38sec and 2:07.09 in the 50m backstroke S2 and 100m backstroke S2 respectively, both of which were clocked enroute to winning gold at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

Yip Pin Xiu waves after winning the 50m backstroke S2 title at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Credit: SportSG/Eng Chin An

And she is not done winning. Yip, who shook hands and exchanged high-fives with delighted spectators after making her way off the podium, explained: "I think I am one of those athletes that genuinely loves training. There are some days we get angry at each other. There are some days you are mad at the programme ... but I still genuinely enjoy the sport. I enjoy the competition. Because I started at such a young age, a lot of my life revolves around sport. I do it professionally and I have friends and family that understand. The plan is to keep winning for as long as possible."

The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games take place in Paris, France from 28 August to 8 September 2024. For the latest Team Singapore coverage and news, follow Team Singapore on their social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok) or visit the official Team Singapore website.