Three-time Paralympic gold medallist Yip Pin Xiu (left) and Paralympics debutant Toh Wei Soong.
PHOTO: SINGAPORE DISABILITY SPORTS COUNCIL
Toh Wei Soong
You might have read about Toh Wei Soong, the prodigy who previously clinched two gold medals at the 2018 Asian Para Games, in the men’s 50m Freestyle S7 and the 100m Freestyle S7, and won a bronze medal in the 50m Freestyle S7 at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. He also won medals at the 2013 Asian Youth Para Games, and the 2015 and 2017 ASEAN Para Games.
The undergraduate in the National University of Singapore’s University Scholars Programme previously remarked, “I think the Paralympics is the biggest thing you can gun for. That’s why it means so much to me. My dream is to bring this message of inclusion and positivity to people.”
Before departing for the Tokyo 2020 Summer Paralympic Games, he told reporters, “this has been a journey eight years in the making and to be able to make my debut at the Paralympic Games is a dream come true. All the blood, sweat and tears have finally paid off.”
Wei Soong was diagnosed with transverse myelitis at the tender age of 2, a condition that causes the inflammation of the spinal cord and affects his lower nervous system. Wei Soong attended school in Anglo-Chinese School (ACS) alongside able-bodied peers and graduated from the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme in 2017. He swam competitively and won competitions as a teenager in ACS, and met his future coach and local swimming legend, Ang Peng Siong, when he joined the Aquatic Performance Swim Club under the Singapore National Para-Swimming Team in 2013.
“I want to continue to spread hope and I applaud educators for all that they do. I encourage them to continue helping students with disabilities to open doors, create opportunities and to chase their dreams,” Wei Soong remarked at a workshop held for educators in 2019.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen my condition as a disadvantage. It’s simply who I am. It’s simply a case of my imperfection. More obvious than others, but I don’t feel anything wrong with that, because everyone has them,” shared the para-swimmer.
Yip Pin Xiu
At the age of 16, Yip Pin Xiu made headlines when she became Singapore’s first Paralympic gold medallist, at the Beijing 2008 Summer Paralympic Games. The backstroke swimmer holds two world records in the women’s 50m Backstroke S2 and 100m Backstroke S2, and is a three-time Paralympic gold medallist. Ten years later, she made history again when she became Singapore’s youngest Nominated Member of Parliament at age 26.
When Pin Xiu was two, her aunt noticed that she could not move her ankles, which led to the doctors discovering that she had Charcot Marie Tooth, a form of muscular dystrophy. Nevertheless, she has never let her disability impair the pursuit of her dreams. Her parents introduced her to swimming at age five, hoping that this would strengthen their daughter’s muscles, but did not expect her to eventually bag multiple gold medals at international competitions.
When she made her Olympic debut at the Beijing 2008 Summer Paralympic Games, she won the Women’s 50m Backstroke S3 gold and the Women’s 50m Freestyle S3 silver.
She was conferred the Singapore Youth Award in 2010 and the Pingat Jasa Gemilang (Meritorious Service Medal) in 2016.
After graduating from Republic Polytechnic, she went on to pursue a Bachelor of Social Science at Singapore Management University (SMU). SMU created her namesake Yip Pin Xiu scholarship, which became the university’s first-ever full sports scholarship.
She was Singapore’s flagbearer at the opening ceremonies of the Rio 2016 Summer Paralympic Games and the 8th ASEAN Para Games 2015 in Singapore. She has also co-authored an inspiring book entitled The Mermaid Who Became A Champion.
“One thing I hope that can change would be for more people with disabilities to be out and about. As of now, we don’t really see people with disabilities as much as I would like to, possibly because they are not as confident to want to come out. It’s important for us to be seen so that more people think, ‘actually we do need to think of them when we are planning stuff’,” the vocal activist remarked when celebrating International Day of People with Disabilities last year.
“I was pretty insecure when I was younger. I wouldn’t wear skirts because I wanted to hide my legs,” she recently told Vogue Singapore. “Winning a gold medal helped. It was the confidence that came with it that made me feel comfortable with myself. Now, I feel beautiful in my own skin,” disclosed Pin Xiu, who wants to inspire positivity in people with different needs.
matter of time before the club gets that elusive piece of silverware that it deserves,” shares former Hougang United forward Antoine Viterale, who now plays football in Portugal. “I have never forgotten the fans. Their passion and belief will drive Hougang United to success, I am sure of that.”
