It Takes More for Me to Be Vulnerable’: Paralympian Yip Pin Xiu Reflects on Her Strength and Its Challenges

She’s a five-time Paralympics gold medallist, world-record holder, and Singapore’s youngest nominated Member of Parliament (NMP). But before swimmer Yip Pin Xiu, who has muscular dystrophy, became one of Singapore’s most decorated athletes, she was a child who endured stares and bullying in school.

In the latest episode of Jean Danker’s R U Okay podcast, Pin Xiu shared, “I used to wear leg braces, and people would stare. My mum said, ‘If people stare, just look back at their legs. Just stare back.’ And it worked! Once people realised they were being stared at, they would stop and run off.”

Appearing on the podcast with a brace on her left arm after a recent fall, the 30-year-old reflected on the resilience she developed over the years. “Growing up with challenges made me really tough,” she said, though she admitted that toughness could sometimes be a drawback. “It takes more for me to be vulnerable and let people in. It’s always good to have a balance.”

Pin Xiu recounted being “ostracised” in school, particularly during her early years. While she acknowledged that young kids might not know how to react to someone different, the real pain came when teachers joined in on the bullying. “It was okay when kids did it, but when teachers joined in, it hurt the most,” she shared.

One incident stood out: “I was crying in the middle of class because someone threw things at me every 10 seconds. When I stood up, there was a pile of eraser dust and staples on my chair. My mum told me to tell the teacher, but when I did, the teacher just ignored me and continued the class.”

Despite these hardships, Pin Xiu has always been a positive person. She admitted she’s unsure how she remained so optimistic as a child but believes her disability taught her to find good even in bad situations.

It wasn’t until she discovered swimming that she truly found herself. Now, with five gold medals under her belt, she envisions swimming competitively for another “two to six years.” Her next goal? Competing at the 2024 Summer Paralympics in Paris.