Another challenging journey awaits Singapore Paralympians

SINGAPORE: Singapore's Paralympians may have returned victorious, but it may just be the start of another challenging journey for them.

Swimmer Yip Pin Xiu splashed into the public eye with Singapore's first Paralympic gold and rewrote two world records.

But what she really hopes to change is the public's perception of the disabled.

Yip said, "There was this time when this old lady came up to me in the toilet while we were changing. Then she was like, Wow! You finally know how to swim! So we were quite surprised that a lot of people still do not know that the disabled actually can do a lot of stuff, like sports."

Yip is eyeing another Paralympic gold this time for the 50-metre freestyle event that slipped from her grasp. But in the meantime, she will focus on studying for her GCE O Levels in October.

National swim coach Ang Peng Siong hopes the athletes will also get better treatment following their achievement.

Yip attributes a big part of her success to fellow swimmer Theresa Goh, whom she looks up to.

Ironically, it was Goh whom the nation had pinned its hopes on for its first medal.

Goh said, "I felt it was one of the best preparations I had, but I think things sometimes don't go the way you plan, no matter how hard you try."

Goh plans to take a break first, before embarking on her studies, possibly in sport-related courses.

And change is something equestrian rider Laurentia Tan will have to accept as her regular gelding, Harvey, is retiring.

She is likely to take it in her stride, just like how she has coped with her profound deafness.

Tan said, "I tend to miss out on conversations. I think the most difficult part is to ask people to repeat themselves, but every time (I do that), I increase in confidence."

And it is that same spirit she is bringing back to the UK, where she is based, to train for more competitions.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Laurentia
• Tan
• Yip
• Pin
• Xiu
• Theresa
• Goh
• Ang
• Peng
• Siong
• Paralympics
• Singapore
• Challenges