Para-swimmer Yip hopes to inspire kids

As a national para-swimmer, Yip Pin Xiu has to juggle 13 training sessions a week and school, on top of commitments to her loved ones.

Most of the time, she sacrifices time spent with her family and friends for training, shared the 24-year-old at the One Team Singapore Roadshow at Zhonghua Primary School yesterday.

Yip also mentioned some of the key values she has learnt through sport, such as resilience.

The roadshow, where national athletes share their experiences with students, is part of an ongoing Team Singapore school outreach programme organised by Sport Singapore.

Yesterday's show, which also featured national floorballer Fariza Begum, was the first one focused on rallying support for the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in August and September respectively.

Yip, who recently broke two world records in the 50m and 100m backstroke (S2) at the International Paralympic Committee Swimming European Open Championship in Funchal, Portugal, said she enjoyed the event immensely.

ENTHUSIASTIC

She told The New Paper: "I usually go to secondary schools, so this time in a primary school, it is so fresh because the pupils are so enthusiastic.

"It's really nice to see that they're starting to understand what athletes do from a young age, and I think that is important in order to create a more sporty Singapore.

"This gives them the knowledge of Singapore sports and athletes and... different values like resilience and time management.

"Hopefully, this will help with their studies."

While Yip does not see herself as a role model, she hopes to pass on sound moral values to students through the sharing session.

"I hope they start learning from young. It's difficult to learn everything in school as you just go with the flow and study but, when you take on something, like sports or the arts, you learn a bit more about commitment and respect. So it's a more holistic education."

Faith Khoo, 12, from Zhonghua Primary, said she was inspired by Yip's story and admired her.

She said: "She overcame her disability and achieved gold in the (2008 Beijing) Paralympic Games.

"She didn't give up even though she faced a lot of challenges.

"I hope to emulate her and be as resilient as her."