Cover Maximilian Maeder at the 2021 World Sailing Youth World Championships (Photo: World Sailing / Lloyd Images)
Maximilian Maeder at the 2021 World Sailing Youth World Championships (Photo: World Sailing / Lloyd Images)
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Competing in various sports from kitefoiling to fencing, equestrian and rowing, seven athletes, who are among those representing Singapore at the Paris 2024 Olympics, share what it means to perform at the top of their game. With his Olympic debut around the corner, Singapore kitefoiler Maximilian Maeder reflects on his journey to the top
Born in Singapore to a Swiss father and a Singaporean mother, Maximilian Maeder grew up connected to the ocean thanks to a childhood spent in part on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, where his parents built the Wakatobi Dive Resort. From as young as six years old, he was introduced to kiteboarding by his father, before transitioning to kitefoiling. (In kiteboarding, the rider and board are pulled by a large steerable kite along the surface of the water, whereas in kitefoiling, the hydrofoil lifts the board and the rider above the water.)
The 17‑year‑old has not looked back since, going on to take up the sport of kitefoiling competitively. His prominence in the arena began with a victory at the 2021 Formula Kite Youth (Under‑19) World Championships and winning the men’s title at the 2021 Formula Kite European Championships, which catapulted him to the top of the men’s Formula Kite world rankings by September that year. The Asian Games gold medallist’s early successes also include wins at prestigious competitions such as the Trofeo Princesa Sofia, the European Championships, the KiteFoil International Open Cup, and the Qualified Nations Regatta at the French Olympic Week.
Above Maeder received a three‑year sponsorship from home‑grown beverage brand Yeo’s
Maeder received a three‑year sponsorship from home‑grown beverage brand Yeo’s
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Now ranked fourth in the world, Maeder has maintained exceptional form over the past year, securing several consecutive titles. His recent victories include winning the men’s title at the Formula Kite European Championships this March and successfully defending his world title at the 2024 Formula Kite World Championships this May, just weeks after his win at the Qualified Nations Regatta.
Last August, he won gold in the men’s kite event at the Sailing World Championships in the Netherlands, earning Singapore a quota spot at Paris 2024, where kitefoiling will make its Olympic debut. Given his consistent performance and growing list of accolades, Maeder is undeniably a strong contender for gold at the upcoming event. “It’ll be my first [Olympic outing]. All I wish for is to represent my nation well and to have zero possibility of any regrets,” he muses.
Above Maeder competing at the 55th Semaine Olympique Française – Toulon Provence Méditerranée (Photo: World Sailing / Semaine Olympique Française)
Maeder competing at the 55th Semaine Olympique Française – Toulon Provence Méditerranée (Photo: World Sailing / Semaine Olympique Française)
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Reflecting on the most rewarding aspects of his journey thus far, Maeder says he never set out with the intention to compete, but his motivations have evolved. “[My journey] began with the sheer enjoyment of riding on the water and floating above the surface, which evolved into the thrill of competition and how good it feels to win,” he shares. “Nowadays, [that has changed; I have people standing] behind me—my coach, my training partner, my sponsors and the Singapore Sport Institute—and each time I perform well in a competition, it feels like I’m bringing all of them with me, sharing the joy, pride and fun of the event. It’s a wonderful thing to see other people’s day get better when you do something you love. And that’s very fulfilling.”
Credits
Photography: World Sailing/ Semaine Olympique Française; Lloyd Images
Nafeesa Saini is the Features Editor at Tatler Singapore, where she shapes long-form stories on culture, business, philanthropy, wellness, and the people driving change in Asia. With a deep interest in storytelling that intersects meaningfully with identity and impact, she has profiled a diverse range of visionaries, from scientific pioneers in AI and health to creative trailblazers and literary minds.
Nafeesa’s writing includes cover stories and profiles that spotlight influential voices, alongside commentary on the trends reshaping our world.
Off the clock, Nafeesa unwinds with fiction, a good thrift hunt, and ‘brainrot’ TikTok scroll—while always keeping one eye on her next cultural getaway, usually to Indonesia.
