Maximilian_Maeder

Maximilian Maeder

Maximilian Maeder

Singaporean kitefoiler

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

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Early life

Maeder was born in Singapore to a family with mixed heritage. His father, Valentin Maeder, is Swiss, and his mother, Hwee Keng, is Singaporean.[7] He is the eldest among his siblings and has two younger brothers.[7] At the age of six, his father introduced him to kiteboarding.[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.[2]

Career

Early career

Maeder's achievements began when he won his first competitive tournament in the Formula Kite Asian Championships in 2018.[8] 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.[6] 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

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.[6] In his second appearance at the Formula Kite World Championships, he finished as runner-up to Slovenia's Toni Vodisek.[12][13]

2023

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.[11][15] Additionally, in August, Maeder also secured his first Formula Kite World Championships title.[16] This accomplishment came as he defeated his rival, Toni Vodisek, and set a new record as the youngest winner in any Olympic sailing class competition, all at the age of 16.[4] Maeder good form continued at the delayed 2022 Asian Games where he won Singapore's first gold medal at the quadrennial games.[3] He finished the season strongly by winning the KiteFoil World Series and clinching his third Youth Sailing World Championships title.[17]

Personal life

In addition to his native English, Maeder is also a fluent speaker of Mandarin, German and French.[8]

Awards and nominations

Maeder was nominated for the following lists and awards :

References

  1. [1]
    "Maximilian Maeder - Forward Wip". Forward Wip. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  2. [2]
    "Maximilian Maeder Sailing.Org Profile". World Sailing. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  3. [3]
    "Kitefoiler Maximilian Maeder wins Singapore's first gold medal at Asian Games". Channel News Asia. 27 September 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  4. [4]
    "Max Maeder: An athlete for four seasons". World Sailing. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  5. [5]
    "16-year-old Singapore kitefoiler Maximilian Maeder crowned world champion". Channel News Asia. 19 August 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  6. [6]
    "Results". World Sailing. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  7. [7]
    "Raising Independent Children". ActiveSG Circle. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  8. [8]
    Just 15, Maximilian Maeder could well be Singapore's next Olympic medallist, The Straits Times, retrieved 24 August 2023
  9. [9]
    "2021 Formula Kite World Championships". formulakite.org. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  10. [10]
    "Ranking History". World Sailing. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  11. [11]
    "Kitefoiler Maximilian Maeder earns first sailing spot at Paris Olympics for Singapore". Yahoo! News. 20 August 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  12. [12]
    Kwek, Kimberly (16 October 2022). "Kitefoiling: Maximilian Maeder wins silver at Formula Kite World Championships". The Straits Times. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  13. [13]
    "First world title for Vodisek, No.6 for Moroz". formulakite.org. 16 October 2022. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  14. [14]
    "Winners all but Trofeo Princesa Sofia goes to Singapore's Formula Kite rider Max Maeder". trofeoprincesasofia.org. 8 April 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  15. [15]
    "Singapore and France blazing to the top of the [youth] world!". formulakite.org. 23 July 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  16. [16]
    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.
  17. [17]
    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.
  18. [18]
    Chia, Laura (1 April 2022). "ST Athlete of the Year: Kitefoiler Maximilian Maeder rises above and beyond". The Straits Times. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  19. [19]
    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.
  20. [20]
    Ganesan, Deepanraj (10 November 2022). "Loh Kean Yew wins his first Sportsman of the Year award". The Straits Times. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  21. [21]
    "Feng Tianwei, Sheik Farhan win sportswoman and sportsman of the year awards for 2023". Channel News Asia. 24 August 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  22. [22]
    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.
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