Kitefoiler Max Maeder clinches Olympic bronze, makes history as Singapore’s youngest Games medallist

MARSEILLE: Singapore’s world champion kitefoiler Maximilian Maeder clinched a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics on Friday (Aug 9).
He finished third overall in the men’s kitefoiling event at the Marseille Marina, ending Singapore’s eight-year wait for an Olympic podium finish since swimmer Joseph Schooling won gold in 2016. Maeder, 17, has also become Singapore’s youngest Olympic medallist.
Austria’s Valentin Bontus won gold, while Slovenia’s Toni Vodisek took silver.
And it was the Austrian who won the decisive Race 3 to be crowned champion.
The final, which was scheduled to be completed on Thursday, required an extra day of racing due to a lack of wind. Even so, there was a considerable delay before the riders took to the water around 2.30pm local time.
And when Race 2 – the first race of Friday – was flagged off, it was the Singaporean Maeder who started well. But Bontus soon caught up and gradually stretched a lead that he would not relinquish.
The Austrian took Race 2, giving him two wins and putting him level with Vodisek. In the final, competitors need three race wins to secure gold.
This left Maeder, holding just one match point, with a must-win situation for Race 3 to have any hopes of keeping his gold medal chase alive. 
Bontus again had a storming start in Race 3, with Maeder hot on his heels. But in the end, it was Bontus and the Italian Riccardo Pianosi who fought it out at the front of the pack. Bontus then applied the afterburners, won the race and Olympic gold.
Having successfully defended his kitefoiling world title in May, Maeder headed into the Paris Games as Singapore’s best hope for an Olympic medal.
At just 17, the teenager delivered on sport’s biggest stage, on Singapore’s National Day, no less – winning the country’s first Olympic medal in sailing and sixth ever across all sports.
Shortly after the race, Singapore’s President Tharman Shanmugaratnam paid tribute to the youngster.
“Max is mature beyond his years – his teenage smile and traces of puppy fat are deceptive,” said Mr Shanmugaratnam. “There is a new wind in Singapore sports.”
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong also congratulated Maeder: “Thank you for our beautiful birthday gift to Singapore!” 
Prior to the Olympics, the youngster also won five events in a row, including the Asian Games and European Championships.
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