Singapore’s most decorated Paralympian Yip Pin Xiu on breaking barriers in sports and society

Breaking barriers and redefining success

Success, once measured in personal bests and medals, has evolved for Yip. “When I was a lot younger, it was more one dimensional. Now, it’s about impact and making a difference in the community. It’s about the people around me and how I make them feel,” Yip shares.

Over the years, she has also come to realise that success is deeply personal, differing from one individual to another. “It really starts with having a goal. Everybody has a different goal, so I think everybody should have a different definition of success,” she adds.

And so for Yip, success is no longer just about winning: “It’s about doing myself proud in terms of how I balance my life, what has the most longevity in what I do, and still loving and enjoying my work while putting in the effort.”

This mindset has guided her as she continues to champion inclusivity in sports and beyond.

As a prominent athlete with a disability, Yip has faced numerous challenges in shifting societal views. “There are many societal perceptions of disability or even anybody that is a minority; as long as you don’t know something well enough, you tend to have a lot of stereotypes and perceptions on it,” she explains. “To truly understand something, you have to be in the person’s shoes, and it’s difficult to put people in different situations—particularly if it doesn’t concern them.”

Accelerating action through advocacy

While change has been slow, Yip acknowledges that public awareness has improved over the years: “More and more people see that there is a need for inclusion.” She largely credits the power of sports and competition in breaking these societal barriers.

She says: “People bond over sports. I think each of my wins has caused a stir in the general public. They understand disability sports better now. They know that being disabled does not mean being unable.”

Besides changing the public’s perception of people with disabilities, Yip believes that sports are an effective medium for female empowerment. “It empowers women because it allows them to improve themselves. It challenges norms because very often, we are told we cannot do certain things. But sports will prove you wrong,” Yip shares.

To mark this year’s International Women’s Day, Yip was a key panelist at Love, Bonito’s inaugural The Trailblazers Summit, where she shared a clear message to the women of today and future generations: “It’s so important to find a community. To be around people who see you and appreciate you, not as competition, but as collaborators. That will help you and those around you lead better lives.”

Reflecting on the theme of Accelerate Action, Yip advises a forward approach to goal-setting and doing: “It’s daunting if you look at the big picture. But if I pick one project, work on it, and see it through, at least one thing changes. And if more people get on board, society moves forward together.” This mindset celebrates progress taken through small but deliberate steps, which eventually spur continued change. “You set baby steps to your goals so that you know that every single day you are working towards something, and if it’s baby steps, it doesn’t feel so big and daunting,” she expounds. “But at the same time, you’re moving forward every day. And to me, that’s what accelerating action is.”

With each goal set and every action taken, Yip moves closer to a future where inclusivity is the norm, not the exception. Her impact extends beyond the pool, reaching individuals and communities who now see greater possibilities for themselves. Through persistence and purpose, she continues to push forward, proving that change is not only necessary but achievable.

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