Paris Paralympics: Singapore’s Yip Pin Xiu wins gold in 100m backstroke S2 event

SINGAPORE: Singapore's Yip Pin Xiu notched a historic three-peat on Friday (Aug 30) after winning the women’s 100m backstroke S2 final at the Paris Paralympics. 

At the La Defense Arena, the defending champion clocked a time of 2:21.73 to clinch Singapore’s first medal of the Paris Games.

She finished just ahead of Mexico's silver medalist Haidee Aceves (2:21.79) and Italy's Angela Procida (2:24.48) who took bronze.

Yip, 32, won gold in the event at the 2016 and 2020 Paralympics.

Singapore’s most decorated Paralympian, she is the current world record holder in the event, and also holds the world record for the 50m backstroke S2.

Earlier in the day, Yip topped the heats, finishing close to four seconds ahead of her closest competitor Aceves.

The now six-time Paralympic gold medallist is among three Team Singapore para swimmers who have qualified for this year’s Games. Toh Wei Soong and Sophie Soon will also take to the pool later in the meet.

Yip will next compete in the 50m backstroke S2 heats on Saturday.

Catch Team Singapore at the Paralympic Games Paris 2024 live and on-demand on mewatch for free at mewatch.sg/paris2024.