Yip Pin Xiu snags her 4th consecutive gold at World Para Swimming Championships
Singapore has won its first gold medal in the 2025 Toyota World Para Swimming Championships, with none other than our most decorated Paralympian doing the honours.
Yip Pin Xiu became champion again after finishing first in the women’s 50m backstroke S2 final on Friday (26 Sept).
Source: Singapore Disability Sports Council on Facebook
Yip clocked a time of 1:04.31
The 33-year-old clocked a time of 1 minute and 04.31 seconds, according to the Singapore Disability Sports Council (SDSC).
That was enough to finish ahead of Russian Diana Koltsova — competing as a neutral athlete — at 1:05.72.
Behind them was Italy’s Arjola Trimi, who snagged the bronze after coming in at a time of 1:05.83.
Source: Paralympic.org
Yip also won gold in the event at 3 previous Para Championships
This is Yip’s fourth consecutive world title in the event.
It was also her eighth gold in the Championships.
Source: Singapore Disability Sports Council on Facebook
The achievement comes four days after winning silver in the women’s 100m backstroke S2 final at the same Championships.
S’pore National Anthem played for first time on home ground
Congratulating Yip in a Facebook post on Friday, President Tharman Shanmugaratnam said she is “just incredible”.
He pointed out that this was the first time Singapore had won a world championship in any sport on home ground.
That meant that Singapore’s National Anthem, ‘Majulah Singapura’, played for the first time at the competition’s Asian debut.
The crowd sang it with “gusto”, Mr Tharman said.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on Facebook that it was a “proud moment” to hear the National Anthem played for the first time at a World Para Swimming Championships on home ground.
Lauding Yip’s feat, he told her:
You have lifted our spirits, inspired a nation, and shown that boundaries are meant to be broken.
Singaporeans gave her standing ovation
Singaporeans seemed to agree, considering supporters, including President Tharman, gave her another standing ovation before the final.
Blowing kisses to them, she told Paralympic.org that the crowd that day had been “amazing”, adding:
It’s amazing that all of us came to cheer together. Tonight, we are extremely proud to be Singaporeans.
After the meet, Yip will turn her mind to more personal affairs — her wedding to her fiancé is next week.
Also read: ‘I am unequivocally happy’: Yip Pin Xiu announces that she’s engaged
‘I am unequivocally happy’: Yip Pin Xiu announces that she’s engaged
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Featured image adapted from Singapore Disability Sports Council on Facebook.
