Nothing stopped SMU alumna and para swimmer Yip Pin Xiu in 2021. Not her self-imposed diet, disease, or even her rivals. She had won a gold and silver at the Paralympics in Beijing 2008 and two golds at Rio 2016. And then this year she won two backstroke golds again at the Tokyo Paralympics. It makes her the very definition of excellence, which is skill demonstrated across time. No athlete in Singapore, ever, has such a persuasive, consistent record. This itself is enough to nominate her for The Straits Times Singaporean of the Year award and yet Ms Yip is more than a swimmer. She transcends sport. "In the past I identified as an athlete," she explained. "But now I see myself as representing other people with disabilities and I see myself as a woman who is more aware of gender issues and equality." And she also believes she represents young people.