Max Maeder Explained

Max Maeder
Birth Name:Maximilian Maeder
Birth Date:12 September 2006
Birth Place:Singapore
Height:1.80 m[1]
Weight:91 kg
Classes:Formula Kite
Coach:Jonny Dolenc
Medaltemplates-Title:Competition record
Show-Medals:yes

Maximilian Maeder (;[2] born 12 September 2006) is a Singaporean kitesurfer.[3] He is the reigning Formula Kite World, Asian, and European champion and holds the distinction of being the youngest winner in any Olympic sailing class competition, achieving this at the age of 16.

He competed at the 2024 Summer Olympics in the inaugural Men's Formula Kite event, where he reached the finals and won the bronze medal.[4] Maeder is also a three-time Formula Kite youth world champion in consecutive years from 2021 to 2023[5] and won various open championships across Europe, Asia and Pan America.[6]

Early life

Maeder was born in Singapore to a family with mixed Eurasian heritage. His father, Valentin Maeder, is an ethnic Swiss German who emigrated to Singapore and became a Singaporean, and his mother, Teng Hwee Keng, is Singaporean.[7] He is the eldest among his siblings and has two younger brothers. At the age of six, his father introduced him to kiteboarding at his parents’ dive resort in Sulawesi, Indonesia.[8] When he was 10, his father encouraged him to venture into kitefoiling, a more advanced form of the sport. By the age of 11, Maeder had already competed in his first competitive pro racing.

Career

2018–2021: Early career and World #1

Maeder's achievements began when he won his first competitive tournament in the Formula Kite Asian Championships in 2018. He later emerged victorious at various tournaments such as the 2021 Formula Kite Youth World Championships (U19), Formula Kite Individual European Championships, Youth Sailing World Championships and KiteFoil World Series. He also took part in his first Formula Kite World Championships in the same year, where he finished fifth.[9] On 20 September 2021, Maeder achieved his highest IKA - Formula Kite men's ranking of World No.1.[10] [11]

2022: World Championships silver

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 firstite Asia-Pacific Championships, Formula Kite Pan American Championships and Semaine Olympique Francaise De Voile victories. In his second appearance at the Formula Kite World Championships, he finished as runner-up to Slovenia's Toni Vodišek.[12] [13]

2023: World and Asian Champions

In 2023, Maeder began his new season by winning the World Cup Series held on the Spanish island of Mallorca.[14] In July, he achieved a significant milestone by capturing his third consecutive Formula Kite Youth World Championships victory.[15] Additionally, in August, Maeder also secured his first Formula Kite World Championships title.[16] 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. Maeder good form continued at the delayed 2022 Asian Games where he won Singapore's first gold medal at the quadrennial games.[17] He finished the season strongly by winning the KiteFoil World Series and clinching his third Youth Sailing World Championships title.[18]

2024: Consecutive World title and Olympic debut

Maeder, who was ranked 6th in the world at the time, opened the 2024 season by winning the European Championships.[19] He followed this success with victories at the World Cup Series[20] and the Semaine Olympique Française De Voile.[21] 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.[22] That same year, Maeder debuted at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, competing in the Men's Formula Kite.[23] 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.[24]

Personal life

In addition to his native English, Maeder also understands Mandarin, German and French. 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.[25]

Awards and nominations

Maeder was nominated for the following lists and awards :

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Maximilian Maeder - Forward Wip . Forward Wip . 25 August 2023.
  2. News: 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. . Qianxue. Zhang. Ken. Low. 13 August 2024. 15 August 2024.
  3. Web site: Maximilian Maeder Sailing.Org Profile . . 24 August 2023.
  4. Web site: Max Maeder: An athlete for four seasons . . 24 August 2023.
  5. Web site: 16-year-old Singapore kitefoiler Maximilian Maeder crowned world champion . Channel News Asia. 19 August 2023. 24 August 2023.
  6. Web site: Results . . 24 August 2023.
  7. Web site: Raising Independent Children . ActiveSG Circle . 24 August 2023.
  8. Web site: Ma . Sylvia . 8 August 2024 . Paris Olympics: meet Max Maeder, the kite surfer on verge of Singapore’s second gold ever . live . 13 August 2024 . South China Morning Post.
  9. Web site: 2021 Formula Kite World Championships . formulakite.org . 25 August 2023.
  10. Web site: Ranking History . . 25 August 2023.
  11. Web site: Kitefoiler Maximilian Maeder earns first sailing spot at Paris Olympics for Singapore . Yahoo! News . 20 August 2023 . 24 August 2023.
  12. Web site: Kwek. Kimberly. 16 October 2022. Kitefoiling: Maximilian Maeder wins silver at Formula Kite World Championships . 25 August 2023. The Straits Times.
  13. Web site: First world title for Vodisek, No.6 for Moroz . formulakite.org . 16 October 2022 . 25 August 2023.
  14. Web site: Winners all but Trofeo Princesa Sofia goes to Singapore's Formula Kite rider Max Maeder . trofeoprincesasofia.org . 8 April 2023 . 25 August 2023.
  15. Web site: Singapore and France blazing to the top of the [youth] world! ]. formulakite.org . 23 July 2023 . 25 August 2023.
  16. Web site: Kwek. Kimberly. 20 August 2023. Double joy as kitefoiler Maximilian Maeder wins world title, gets Olympic quota spot . 25 August 2023. The Straits Times.
  17. Web site: Kitefoiler Maximilian Maeder wins Singapore’s first gold medal at Asian Games . Channel News Asia . 27 September 2023 . 13 October 2023.
  18. Web site: Ang. Ervin. 16 December 2023. Singapore kitefoiler Maximilian Maeder wraps up successful year with Youth Sailing World Championships title . 16 December 2023. The Straits Times.
  19. News: Teoh . Melvyn . 2024-03-24 . Singaporean sailor Maximilian Maeder wins 2024 Formula Kite European Championships . 2024-06-08 . The Straits Times . en.
  20. News: Ganesan . Deepanraj . 2024-04-07 . Singaporean kitefoiler Max Maeder collects wins, and experience, ahead of Olympics . 2024-06-08 . The Straits Times . en.
  21. Web site: Rifhan . Khalis . 2024-05-20 . Max Maeder retains Formula Kite World Championships. 2024-06-08 . The Independent Singapore News . en-US.
  22. Web site: 'An experience to remember': Singapore's Maximilian Maeder hungry for more after second straight world title . 2024-05-20 . 2024-06-08 . CNA . en.
  23. Web site: Mohan . Matthew . How Olympic medal hope Max Maeder was raised as a 'decision-maker' – who would choose Singapore 'over and over again' . CNA . 2 August 2024 . en . 8 July 2024.
  24. Web site: Kitefoiler Max Maeder clinches Olympic bronze, makes history as Singapore's youngest Games medallist. CNA . 9 August 2024.
  25. Web site: Singapore world champion kitefoiler Max Maeder granted National Service deferment . CNA . 28 July 2024 . en . 6 July 2024.
  26. Web site: Chia. Laura. 1 April 2022. ST Athlete of the Year: Kitefoiler Maximilian Maeder rises above and beyond . 24 August 2023. The Straits Times.
  27. Web site: Chia. Laura. 29 March 2023. ST Athlete of the Year nominee: Maximilian Maeder’s letter to his future self. 24 August 2023. The Straits Times.
  28. Web site: Ganesan. Deepanraj. Loh Kean Yew wins his first Sportsman of the Year award . The Straits Times. 10 November 2022. 24 August 2023.
  29. Web site: Feng Tianwei, Sheik Farhan win sportswoman and sportsman of the year awards for 2023 . Channel News Asia. 24 August 2023. 24 August 2023.
  30. Web site: Teoh. Melvyn. 18 October 2023. Champion kitefoiler Max Maeder is first Singaporean nominated for World Sailor of the Year. 16 December 2023. The Straits Times.
  31. Web site: Kwek. Kimberly. Sprinter Shanti Pereira, bowler Darren Ong win top accolades at 2024 Singapore Sports Awards . The Straits Times. 4 June 2024. 8 June 2024.

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