Image: ST File
When we say we celebrate femininity, we don’t just mean the power-suit-wearing OLs who command attention in the office while decked out in their Louboutin stilettos. We also mean the mother who chose to support her family by being a stay-home wife, and, of course, the gungho entrepreneurs who are doing it for themselves.
That’s why in 2008, we at Her World magazine tapped national swimmer Yip Pin Xiu as our Young Woman Achiever of the Year.
Born with muscular dystrophy and wheelchair-bound by the age of 11, she’s never been one to let anything hold her back. She made sports history by becoming the first ever Singaporean to win a gold medal at the 2008 Paralympic Games.
As if that weren’t enough, she proceeded to break a world record in the women’s 50-metre backstroke S2 event at last year’s Asean para games. Talk about a powerhouse!
Her success and strength haven’t gone unnoticed by others; she’s also one of the five nominees for the 8th Straits Times Athlete of the Year award. That’s two possible recognised titles under her belt!
As for whether she’ll be crowned Straits Times’ Athlete of the Year, well… She’s up against fellow swimmer Joseph Schooling, bowler Shayna Ng, runner Shanti Pereira and footballer Khairul Anwar so the competition is pretty stiff.
Whatever the case though, 2016 might prove to be just as big a year as 2015 was for her. With the 2016 Rio Paralympics up ahead, we’re pretty stoked to see what she’ll accomplish.
And we’re not the only ones – her coach Mick Massey has some pretty high expectations, too: “Everything is in place for Singapore to go to Rio and have a real go at bringing back another gold medal.”
How’s that for #girlpower?
Get inspired by other successful women at the 2016 Young Woman Achiever Forum.