‘Proud, exhilarating, inspiring’: Supporters cheer Maximilian Maeder’s Olympic bronze
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About 60 people gathered for a watch party at the National Sailing Centre to catch Maximilian Maeder's races in the Formula Kite final at the Paris Olympics on Aug 9.
ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE
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SINGAPORE – First there was silence, a palpable sense of deflation in the air that the gold medal had not gone to Singapore.
But as soon as Maximilian Maeder finished his race to confirm himself as Singapore’s youngest Olympic medallist after clinching bronze
Members of the public, national athletes and those from the sailing fraternity applauded in unison, swung their flags to showcase their pride in the 17-year-old’s performance thousands of kilometres away at the Marseille Marina.
Maximilian, a two-time world champion and one of the pre-competition favourites, finished third in the men’s kitefoiling event at the Paris Olympics, ending Singapore’s eight-year wait for a podium finish at the Games since swimmer Joseph Schooling captured a historic gold at Rio 2016.
The crowd inside the sheltered hall may have wished and prayed for gold from Maximilian, but there was still plenty of pride and admiration at the bronze.
Austrian Valentin Bontus, who won the decisive Race 3 in the final, took gold while Slovenia’s Toni Vodisek clinched silver.
Stanley Chan, 46, deputy president of the Singapore Sailing Federation, said: “Congratulations to Max. It was a great race and he has got the only medal (at Paris 2024) for Singapore. It has been such close racing. We are all so proud of him and he is only 17.
“People forget that he is still a teenager and he is achieving these things. There are still more medals to come. He has always said in his interviews that his endeavours in the sport is about what he can do for the country too, and he has really brought so many people together over the last few days, especially today on National Day.”
Former national sailor Pamela Goh, 44, who was at the NSC for a second straight day – the final series was scheduled for Aug 8 but later abandoned due to light winds – was beaming with pride alongside her husband and two young children.
She said: “It was exhilarating to watch and, to see a fellow Singaporean racing with top people, is a proud moment for all Singaporeans. It is amazing. It is a win. Max, thank you so much for bringing us on this amazing journey and congratulations on this medal.”
It is also the first sailing medal Singapore has claimed at the Olympics. The previous five were from weightlifting, table tennis and swimming.
No wonder few were bothered by the repeated disruptions and delays. They had waited a long time for this moment.
Koh Seng Leong, 40, a former sailor who has competed at the 2000 and 2008 Olympic Games, said: “It was an exciting final. All of us here are feeling a little disappointed, but I don’t think anybody has the right to feel upset any more than Max is feeling right now.
“He needs to know that we have all witnessed history today. This is the first sailing medal at the Olympics and he has brought it home at the age of 17. What more can we ask for. This is a fantastic result for Singaporeans.”
About 100 people had showed up on Aug 8 and, while the second evening’s audience was smaller, it was no less enthusiastic. There was no buffet spread of food or Ramly burger station like the previous night, but the 160 packets of curry puff donated by Old Chang Kee – each with a note cheering on Maximilian – went some way to keeping stomachs full.
As did the live broadcast of the National Day Parade that was screened before Maximilian’s races, which eventually began after a three-hour delay. The decibels rose rapidly as their hero appeared on the screen.
Some, like Desmond Tan, 29, were new converts to this high-speed racing on water. He had found out about the watch party being held from reading the newspapers and arrived at 6.30pm.
Describing himself as a “Team Singapore fan”, he said: “He has put us on the map and for that we can all be very grateful. Even if there is disappointment, it only reflects so well on him because it shows how good he is and can be. As a Singaporean, I am so proud.”
For 12-year-old Tan Ming Er, it was a day to remember. She said: “Third is very hard to achieve at the Olympics and I think he has inspired me and a lot of kids in Singapore to really go and pursue their dreams.”
