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Max Maeder

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Maximilian Maeder[a] OLY (born 12 September 2006) is a Singaporean Formula Kite professional athlete.[22] He is the reigning Formula Kite World, Asiad, Asian and European champion. He holds the distinction of being the youngest winner in any Olympic sailing class competition, achieving this at the age of 16.[23]

Maximilian Maeder
Maeder in 2024
Personal information
Nationality Singapore
Born (2006-09-12) 12 September 2006 (age 18)
Singapore
Height1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[1]
Weight91 kg (201 lb)[1]
Sport
CountrySingapore
Rank1 (September 3, 2024)
EventMen's Kite
Coached byJohn Dolenc
Medal record
Men's Formula Kite
Representing  Singapore
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
Olympic Games - – 1
World Championships 2 1 –
Asian Games 1 - –
European Championships 2 - -
Asian Championships 4 1 -
Youth Sailing World Championships 3 - -
Youth World Championships 4 - -
KiteFoil World Series 5 1 -
Total 21 3 1
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 2024 Paris Formula Kite
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2024 Hyères Formula Kite[2]
Gold medal – first place 2023 The Hague Formula Kite[3]
Silver medal – second place 2022 Cagliari Formula Kite[4]
Asian Games
Gold medal – first place 2022 Hangzhou Formula Kite
European Championships
Gold medal – first place 2022 Nafpaktos Open
Gold medal – first place 2021 Montpellier Open
Asian Championships
Gold medal – first place 2024 Daishan Open
Silver medal – second place 2023 Shenzhen Open[5]
Gold medal – first place 2022 Pattaya Open[6]
Gold medal – first place 2019 Beihai Asian[7]
Gold medal – first place 2018 Zhuhai Asian
Pan American Championships
Gold medal – first place 2022 São Luís Open[8]
Youth Sailing World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2023 Búzois Formula Kite[9]
Gold medal – first place 2022 The Hague Formula Kite[10]
Gold medal – first place 2021 Mussanah Formula Kite[11]
IKA Youth World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2023 Hang Loose U21 & U19[12]
Gold medal – first place 2022 Torregrande U21[13]
Gold medal – first place 2021 Hang Loose U19[14]
Gold medal – first place 2019 Pascucci U19[15]
KiteFoil World Series
Gold medal – first place 2024 Traunsee Formula Kite
Gold medal – first place 2023 Zhuhai Formula Kite[16]
Gold medal – first place 2023 Cagliari Formula Kite[17]
Gold medal – first place 2023 Traunsee Formula Kite[18]
Silver medal – second place 2022 Traunsee Formula Kite[19]
Gold medal – first place 2021 Fuerteventura Formula Kite[20]

Maeder competed at the 2024 Summer Olympics in the inaugural Men's Formula Kite event, where he reached the finals and won the bronze medal, becoming the country's second native-born Olympic medalist.[24] Maeder is also a three-time youth world sailing champion in consecutive years from 2021 to 2023[25] and won various open championships across Europe, Asia and Pan America.[26] Since the 2021 European Championships, he has consistently secured podium finishes in every competition he has entered.

Early life

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Maeder was born in Singapore to a family with mixed Eurasian heritage. His father, Valentin Maeder, is a Swiss German and his mother, Hwee Keng (née Teng) Maeder, is Singaporean Chinese.[27] He is the eldest among his siblings and has two younger brothers.[27] At the age of six, his father introduced him to kiteboarding before encouraging him to venture into kitefoiling, a more advanced form of the sport, when he was 10.[28][29] By the age of 11, Maeder had already competed in his first competitive pro race.[30][22]

Career

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2018–2021: Early career and World No.1

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Maeder's achievements began when he won his first competitive tournament in the Formula Kite Asian Championships at Zhuhai in 2018.[28] He later emerged victorious at various tournaments such as the 2021 Formula Kite Youth World Championships (U19),[31] Formula Kite Individual European Championships, Youth Sailing World Championships and KiteFoil World Series.[26] He also took part in his first Formula Kite World Championships in the same year, where he finished fifth.[32] On 20 September 2021, Maeder achieved his highest IKA - Formula Kite men's ranking of World No.1.[33][34]

2022: World Championships silver

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In 2022, success continued to follow with his second Formula Kite Youth World Championships (U21), Youth Sailing World Championships and Formula Kite Individual European Championships titles, as well his first Formula Kite Asia-Pacific Championships, Formula Kite Pan American Championships and Semaine Olympique Francaise De Voile victories.[26] In his second appearance at the Formula Kite World Championships, he finished as runner-up to Slovenia's Toni Vodišek.[35][36]

2023: World and Asian Champions

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In 2023, Maeder began his new season by winning the World Cup Series held on the Spanish island of Mallorca.[37] In July, he achieved a significant milestone by capturing his third consecutive Formula Kite Youth World Championships victory.[34][38] Additionally, in August, Maeder also secured his first Formula Kite World Championships title.[39] This accomplishment came as he defeated his rival, Toni Vodišek, and set a new record as the youngest winner in any Olympic sailing class competition, all at the age of 16.[24] Maeder good form continued at the delayed 2022 Asian Games where he won Singapore's first gold medal at the quadrennial games.[23] He finished the season strongly by winning the KiteFoil World Series and clinching his third Youth Sailing World Championships title.[40]

2024: Consecutive World title and Olympic debut

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Maeder, who was ranked 6th in the world at the time, opened the 2024 season by winning the European Championships.[41] He followed this success with victories at the World Cup Series[42] and the Semaine Olympique Française De Voile.[43] In May, he claimed his second Formula Kite World Championships title by overcoming Italy’s Riccardo Pianosi, the world’s top-ranked Formula Kite men’s sailor, who finished in second place ahead of Austria’s Valentin Bontus.[43][44] That same year, Maeder debuted at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, competing in the Men's Formula Kite.[45] There, he won a bronze medal on 9 August 2024, Singapore's National Day, becoming the youngest Olympic medalist of Singapore at the age of 17.[46] In September, Maeder returns to competing, finishing first place in KiteFoil World Series Austria[47] and 2024 KiteFoil Asian Championships in Daishan, China.[48]

Business and industry endorsements

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Maeder is endorsed by several kitesurf and water sports gear companies such as Levitaz, WIP and Flysurfer.[49][50][51] In 2024, he also helped the development of his foil and kite with Levitaz and Flysurfer.[52]

Maeder has represented Singaporean beverage brand, Yeo's (Yeo Hiap Seng), as a brand ambassador since 2022.[53] He has appeared advertisements for the brand, including digital and physical advertisements for the brand's "New Pioneers" campaign prior the olympics in 2024,[54] as well as a special edition beverage can featuring Maeder.[55] Yeo's also hosted meet & greet sessions for fans of Maeder.[56][57] Maeder's partnership with Yeo's aligned with a 3-year-sponsorship agreement with the Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation,[58][59] founded by the son of the creator of Far East Organisation, which is the parent company of Yeo's. Maeder has represented Swiss watch brand, Norqain, as a brand ambassador since 2022.[60] Singaporean bank, DBS, announced a four-and-a-half year collaboration with Maeder.[61][62]He has appeared in the brand's "Trust Your Spark" campaign in 2024,[63] and took part in private and public engagement sessions hosted by DBS. [64][65]

Personal life

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Maximilian Maeder was born on 12 September 2006[66] in Singapore to Valentin and Hwee Keng (née Teng) Maeder. His father is a Swiss, and his mother is a Chinese Singaporean. He has two younger brothers, Karl and Valentin Jr., who are respectively 2 and 9 years younger.[67]

Maeder grew up in a multi-lingo household; In addition to his native English, Maeder also understands Mandarin, German, Swiss German and French.[30][28] He said that his linguistic abilities, particularly in Mandarin, are a result of his mother’s persistent effort in ignoring anything he said in any language other than Mandarin.[68][69] Maeder was homeschooled growing up.[67]

His family has a long association with water sports: His uncle Lorenz Mäder is a marine biologist who also is the founder of the conservationist dive resort Wakatobi in Southern Sulawesi, Indonesia.[70] Maeder’s parents have helped manage the dive resort, with his mother, Hwee Keng Maeder, being on the board of Wakatobi. [70][67] His father, Valentin Maeder is a glider pilot and water sports enthusiast.[71][67] Maeder spent a large part of his early life in Wakatobi, and it is also where he first learnt kiteboarding and kitefoiling.[72][73]

Although Maeder had dual nationality of Swiss and Singaporean by birth, he chose to compete for Singapore at the age of 11.[74] He compared the choice of what country to represent with choosing one cuisine to eat for the rest of his life. He stated, “It felt like choosing between chicken rice and cheese fondue” and it was a “easy choice” for him to pick chicken rice (standing for Singapore).[74] His brother Karl Maeder is also a kitefoiler who is representing Switzerland and is on the Swiss Youth Kite Sailing team.[67][75]

 
Maeder with other Singapore Olympians at the open-top bus parade in 2024

In his free time, Maeder enjoys chess.[72] Max enjoys a form of chess mode called “chess puzzles” and has told that his chess puzzle points on Chess.com is 2650.[76] It is his superstition to base his performance in the race on how he did for his chess puzzles on the day.[76] Maeder has been dating an unnamed Singaporean national swimmer since August 2024.[76]

In 2024, he was granted a deferment from his National Service (NS) obligations where he could continue to train and compete until after the 2028 Summer Olympics.[77]

After the 2024 Paris Olympics, Maeder and 9 other Singaporean Olympians participated in an open-top bus parade.[78][79]

Awards and nominations

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Maeder was nominated for the following lists and awards :

See also

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Notes and references

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  1. ^ His name is sometimes transliterated to 墨士廉 (pinyin: Mò Shìlián) in Singapore's Chinese-language media.[21]
  1. ^ a b "Maximilian Maeder - Forward Wip". Forward Wip. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  2. ^ https://www.formulakite.org/2024worlds
  3. ^ https://thehague2023.sailing.org/results-centre/
  4. ^ https://www.formulakite.org/2022worlds
  5. ^ https://www.sail-world.com/news/269195/2023-Formula-Kite-Asia-and-Oceania-Championships
  6. ^ https://www.sail-world.com/news/247223/Formula-Kite-NFDS-Asia-Pacific-Championships
  7. ^ https://www.sail-world.com/news/218006/Formula-Kite-Asian-Championships-overall
  8. ^ https://www.formulakite.org/2022panamericans
  9. ^ https://www.sail-world.com/news/269827/2023-Youth-Sailing-Worlds-overall
  10. ^ https://sailing-news.com/news/en/permanent/55985/1-55982-1-0-world-sailing-youth-world-championship-2022-den-haag-ned-day-4.html
  11. ^ https://www.sail-world.com/news/244895/Youth-Sailing-Worlds-in-Oman-overall
  12. ^ https://www.formulakite.org/2023youthworlds
  13. ^ https://www.formulakite.org/2022YouthWorlds
  14. ^ https://www.flickr.com/photos/kiteclasses/51328414334/in/album-72157719575048834
  15. ^ https://flysurfer.com/2019/05/formula-kite-world-championships-2019-italy/
  16. ^ https://www.sail-world.com/news/269422/KiteFoil-World-Series-Final-in-Zhuhai-overall
  17. ^ https://www.sail-world.com/news/267775/Kitefoil-World-Series-Italy-overall
  18. ^ https://www.sail-world.com/news/267566/2023-KiteFoil-World-Series-Austria-overall
  19. ^ https://www.sail-world.com/news/250512/KiteFoil-World-Series-Traunsee-overall
  20. ^ https://kitefoilworldseries.com/events/results/2021-season/2021-act-4-fuerteventura
  21. ^ Zhang, Qianxue; Low, Ken (13 August 2024). "墨士廉外公：让他先尽情跟大家分享快乐 我们会在家等着他" [Max Maeder's grandfather: Let him share his happiness with everyone first, we will wait for him at home]. Lianhe Zaobao. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  22. ^ a b "Maximilian Maeder Sailing.Org Profile". World Sailing. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  23. ^ a b "Kitefoiler Maximilian Maeder wins Singapore's first gold medal at Asian Games". Channel News Asia. 27 September 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  24. ^ a b "Max Maeder: An athlete for four seasons". World Sailing. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  25. ^ "16-year-old Singapore kitefoiler Maximilian Maeder crowned world champion". Channel News Asia. 19 August 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  26. ^ a b c "Results". World Sailing. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  27. ^ a b "Raising Independent Children". ActiveSG Circle. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  28. ^ a b c Just 15, Maximilian Maeder could well be Singapore's next Olympic medallist, The Straits Times, 15 May 2022, retrieved 24 August 2023
  29. ^ Ma, Sylvia (8 August 2024). "Paris Olympics: meet Max Maeder, the kite surfer on verge of Singapore's second gold ever". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  30. ^ a b zaobaosg (21 September 2023). 专访亚运冠军墨士廉 (Maximilian Maeder)：“我会努力学习中文，因为妈妈叫我这么做。”. Retrieved 23 September 2024 – via YouTube.
  31. ^ "2021 U19 Worlds Results". Welcome to the IKA Formula Kite Class. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  32. ^ "2021 Formula Kite World Championships". formulakite.org. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  33. ^ "Ranking History". World Sailing. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  34. ^ a b "Kitefoiler Maximilian Maeder earns first sailing spot at Paris Olympics for Singapore". Yahoo! News. 20 August 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  35. ^ Kwek, Kimberly (16 October 2022). "Kitefoiling: Maximilian Maeder wins silver at Formula Kite World Championships". The Straits Times. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  36. ^ "First world title for Vodisek, No.6 for Moroz". formulakite.org. 16 October 2022. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  37. ^ "Winners all but Trofeo Princesa Sofia goes to Singapore's Formula Kite rider Max Maeder". trofeoprincesasofia.org. 8 April 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  38. ^ "Singapore and France blazing to the top of the [youth] world!". formulakite.org. 23 July 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  39. ^ Kwek, Kimberly (20 August 2023). "Double joy as kitefoiler Maximilian Maeder wins world title, gets Olympic quota spot". The Straits Times. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  40. ^ Ang, Ervin (16 December 2023). "Singapore kitefoiler Maximilian Maeder wraps up successful year with Youth Sailing World Championships title". The Straits Times. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  41. ^ Teoh, Melvyn (24 March 2024). "Singaporean sailor Maximilian Maeder wins 2024 Formula Kite European Championships". The Straits Times. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  42. ^ Ganesan, Deepanraj (7 April 2024). "Singaporean kitefoiler Max Maeder collects wins, and experience, ahead of Olympics". The Straits Times. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  43. ^ a b Rifhan, Khalis (20 May 2024). "Max Maeder retains Formula Kite World Championships". The Independent Singapore News. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  44. ^ "'An experience to remember': Singapore's Maximilian Maeder hungry for more after second straight world title". CNA. 20 May 2024. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  45. ^ Mohan, Matthew (8 July 2024). "How Olympic medal hope Max Maeder was raised as a 'decision-maker' – who would choose Singapore 'over and over again'". CNA. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  46. ^ "Kitefoiler Max Maeder clinches Olympic bronze, makes history as Singapore's youngest Games medallist". CNA. 9 August 2024.
  47. ^ "Kampman battles while Maeder cruises to victory in Austria - International Kiteboarding Association". www.kiteclasses.org. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  48. ^ "2024 IKA Asians: Opening Series Concludes Amidst Dramatic Conditions - International Kiteboarding Association". www.kiteclasses.org. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  49. ^ CMD. "Max Maeder". Levitaz. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  50. ^ "Maximilian Maeder - Forward Wip". Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  51. ^ "Maximilian Maeder". FLYSURFER. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  52. ^ Lee, David (9 September 2024). "Olympic kitefoiling medallist Maximilian Maeder back to winning ways in Austria". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  53. ^ "Yeo's CMO on partnering with Olympic medallist Max Maeder | Analysis". Campaign Asia. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  54. ^ 🌊 Meet The New Pioneer: @maximilianmaeder - World Kite Foiling Champion and Yeo’s Brand Ambassador!🌟. Retrieved 23 September 2024 – via www.youtube.com.
  55. ^ "Special edition H-TWO-O Sparkling isotonic drink". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  56. ^ "Meet & Greet with Max Maeder". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  57. ^ "Meet our Olympic icon in person". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  58. ^ "Yeo's Annual Report 2022" (PDF). Yeo Hiap Seng.
  59. ^ "Yeo's and Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation Enter into 3-year Partnership with World Kitefoiling Champion Maximilian Maeder - PR Newswire APAC". en.prnasia.com. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  60. ^ "Maximilian Maeder - NORQAIN". norqain.com. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  61. ^ "Get to know world kitefoiling champion Max Maeder". DBS. 18 July 2024.
  62. ^ "DBS teams up with world kitefoiling champion Max Maeder to galvanise youth to pursue their aspirations". DBS. 11 July 2024.
  63. ^ DBS (14 August 2024). Riding wave and wind: Max Maeder. Retrieved 23 September 2024 – via YouTube.
  64. ^ The Straits Times (15 August 2024). Q&A with Max Maeder: On pressure, what's changed, what’s next... and his legs. Retrieved 23 September 2024 – via YouTube.
  65. ^ Plastic Jesus (21 August 2024). Max Maeder full interview with DBS CEO Gupta #trustyourspark. Retrieved 23 September 2024 – via YouTube.
  66. ^ "Athlete Profiles". Paris Olympics 2024.
  67. ^ a b c d e Kwek, Kimberly (3 August 2024). "How Maximilian Maeder's parents raised a world champion". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  68. ^ zaobaosg (21 September 2023). 专访亚运冠军墨士廉 (Maximilian Maeder)：“我会努力学习中文，因为妈妈叫我这么做。”. Retrieved 23 September 2024 – via YouTube.
  69. ^ HeyKaki 嘿卡奇 (4 July 2024). 23 Questions With Maximilian Maeder: SG Gen Z On Road To Olympics, Relationships & More!. Retrieved 22 September 2024 – via YouTube.
  70. ^ a b "People". Wakatobi. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  71. ^ "Valentin Mäder (SUI) (18098) | World Air Sports Federation". www.fai.org. 10 October 2017. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  72. ^ a b HeyKaki 嘿卡奇 (4 July 2024). 23 Questions With Maximilian Maeder: SG Gen Z On Road To Olympics, Relationships & More!. Retrieved 23 September 2024 – via YouTube.
  73. ^ kiteclasses (19 September 2024). 2024 IKA Asians - Max Maeder. Retrieved 22 September 2024 – via YouTube.
  74. ^ a b The Straits Times (14 August 2024). Max Maeder and Edwin Tong speak on their relationship, why Max picked Singapore and more. Retrieved 22 September 2024 – via YouTube.
  75. ^ "World Sailing - Karl Maeder". World Sailing. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  76. ^ a b c DBS Trust Your Spark with Max Maeder! 🪁🎖. Retrieved 22 September 2024 – via www.youtube.com.
  77. ^ "Singapore world champion kitefoiler Max Maeder granted National Service deferment". CNA. 6 July 2024. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  78. ^ [LIVE] Open-top bus parade for Max Maeder and Team Singapore Olympians. Retrieved 23 September 2024 – via www.youtube.com.
  79. ^ "In Pictures: Max Maeder and Singapore Olympians go on celebratory parade". The Straits Times. 14 August 2024. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  80. ^ Chia, Laura (1 April 2022). "ST Athlete of the Year: Kitefoiler Maximilian Maeder rises above and beyond". The Straits Times. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  81. ^ Chia, Laura (29 March 2023). "ST Athlete of the Year nominee: Maximilian Maeder's letter to his future self". The Straits Times. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  82. ^ Ganesan, Deepanraj (10 November 2022). "Loh Kean Yew wins his first Sportsman of the Year award". The Straits Times. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  83. ^ "Feng Tianwei, Sheik Farhan win sportswoman and sportsman of the year awards for 2023". Channel News Asia. 24 August 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  84. ^ Teoh, Melvyn (18 October 2023). "Champion kitefoiler Max Maeder is first Singaporean nominated for World Sailor of the Year". The Straits Times. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  85. ^ Kwek, Kimberly (4 June 2024). "Sprinter Shanti Pereira, bowler Darren Ong win top accolades at 2024 Singapore Sports Awards". The Straits Times. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
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