1 Hello, I am Yip Pin Xiu. I was born with Charcot Marie Tooth, a disorder that causes my muscles to weaken slowly. However, I never give up. Today, I have five Paralympic gold medals.

2 By the time I was 13 years old, I could not walk and had to use a wheelchair. My classmates bullied me in school – they teased me and even threw staples in my hair. Luckily, my family supported me constantly. When I decided to pick up swimming, my parents adjusted their daily schedules and rose before dawn every day. My mother would pack delicious food for me while my father would ferry me to the pool. They encouraged me to train every day!

3 I was determined to excel in swimming. I swam 70 laps a day, practising and refining my strokes over and over again. I also boxed and lifted weights. Basically, I did everything that was necessary to do better in my swimming.

4 In 2008, I turned 16. I celebrated this milestone by confidently taking part in my first Paralympic Games. Eager to show the world what I was capable of, I swam my hardest in the 50-metre backstroke race. I attained first place and won a gold medal!

5 My victory has spurred me on to continue with swimming. I always try to improve my techniques so that I can reach my full potential. My aspiration is to win more gold medals and make Singapore proud.

Adapted from “The Mermaid Who Became A Champion”

Need to set the reading comprehension passage for my kiddos' mid-year exam. Decided to inject myself with endorphins by posting the passage on Yip Pin Xiu that I wrote two years ago. POW never dies!