Singapore para-swimmer Yip Pin Xiu has been making the headlines this past week for her record-breaking achievements in the pool at the IPC Swimming European Open Championships in Funchal, Portugal . The 24-year-old Singapore Management University undergraduate broke two world records - in the 50m and 100m backstroke S2 - and also set two new Asian records (50m and 100m freestyle S2). The results can only bode well for Yip at September’s Paralympic Games in Rio. In a Q&A with TODAY sports reporter Adelene Wong (adelenewong [at] mediacorp.com.sg), Yip talks about her current form, her hopes for Rio, the pressure she is facing, her muscular dystrophy, and what she is like out of the pool...

1. How do you feel about your second world record in three days? Were you aiming to break the world record going into the 50m backstroke S2 final?

I was really tired going into the race, because it was my fourth race, and I had to swim back-to-back events over three days.

But I really wanted to do a good timing to better my (2015) APG (Asean Para Games) timing. I swam my heart out there and I am glad my timing improved.

2. What do you think of your overall performance at the European Open Championships? Did it exceed your own expectations?

I think that my overall performance at the European Championships met the expectations that my coach and the team had set for me. They are what we wanted.

I am happy with the results, but something I need to improve on is the back-end speed of the 100m (last 50m of the 100m races), as well as being able to sprint a bit faster in the 50m.

3. What are your hopes for the 2016 Paralympics?

They are actually the same as for every competition that I take part in. I just want to do really good timings, and improve on my times. I guess no matter what, as long as I know I have done my best, I’ll be really happy. Am I thinking of repeating my gold medal feat (from the 2008 Paralympics)? It’ll be nice if I could, but I don’t want to put too high expectations on myself yet.

Training full-time has really helped to get me on track for now.

People might think I would be feeling more confident after the results at this European Championships, but I really don’t think so. Sports is really very unexpected and unpredictable, and my competitors have also improved on their timings. So I think there is nothing that I can take for granted, and I will still continue to train harder, and harder.

4. What are some of the crucial things you need to do from now until Rio to ensure that you keep up with your fine form?

There are only four months left to Rio. If I have to highlight three things that I need to do, they are: rest and recovery, intensifying training, as well as having a good diet.

I have been quite careful with what I eat. I make my choices based on what my body needs. So if I need more carbs and protein on a day, then I will choose foods that will provide more of that. I tend not to snack so much as well.

5. You are now a holder of two world records. Can you describe the kind of pressure you are facing heading into Rio?

Pressure can be an athlete’s stumbling block. I guess with two world records, there will be more pressure, and expectations on me. This is because people may think that as a holder of world records, (the Paralympics gold medal) is already in the bag, but as I said before, sports is really very unpredictable.

I think it is important not to let the pressure get to me as well. I don’t think I’ve ever felt such high expectations than at this current moment, in this year.

I think this is also because there has been more emphasis on para-sports than in the past few years.

So, I definitely need to handle this pressure. But I’ve also learnt throughout the years to focus on my own races and everything.

I’ll definitely talk to my psychologist (about it), but I’ll try not to let the pressure get to me.

I think it is also good too that we will be away for a couple of training camps, so we don’t have many distractions and we can really focus.

6. Can you tell us about the people who mean the most to you, and those you know are rooting for you back home?

My family means the most to me, and I know they are always rooting for me. It is not only them though. My friends and my supporters as well. I guess throughout the years, I have come to realise that there are many people who support us, and I am really very, very grateful for that because I wouldn’t have gotten this far without everybody’s support.

My family has always been there, and they have never pressured me into doing anything I didn’t want to. They have always encouraged me to do what I want to which is to swim competitively.

7. How worried are you of your condition (muscular dystrophy). How do you deal with the uncertainty over the rate at which your muscles may weaken over time?

I worry about my condition, but not all the time. Actually most of the time, I don’t worry about it, because there is no point worrying. I really try my best to not let it deteriorate, so if it does, I will just have to adapt to it.

Of course, it makes me sad, but I think there is nothing much I can do about it.

As for what my condition will be like by the 2020 Paralympics, I really don’t know, but I hope there wouldn’t be (any further weakening). But I know that from 2008 till now, they have weakened.

Currently though, my eyesight has stabilised. So the nerves on the left side of my eye area have stabilised. I went for a checkup a year ago, and not much has changed, although I still don’t have perfect eyesight even with my glasses on.

As for strength in my limbs, the main difference I can tell from two years ago is that my wrists and my grip have all since weakened.

8. Tell us a little bit more about how you are like outside of the pool, and your hobbies. What makes you happy?

There isn’t a lot of time out of the pool for me. Most of the time, I have to be catching up on sleep.

But I really like to hang out with friends, and catch up with them. I like to go explore places in Singapore that are not explored much. I also like to eat desserts! So, these things make me happy.

I don’t know what makes me sad. I will think about it and let you know again.