‘Heartbroken’ but proud, Max Maeder’s parents reflect on their child’s historic Olympic medal for Singapore

MARSEILLE: Minutes after securing his Olympic medal, Hwee Keng Maeder and her son Maximilian shared a quiet moment.
Arms draped around the 17-year-old kitefoiler, her message was simple – that although he was upset, he had made history.
Maeder clinched a bronze at the Paris Olympics on Friday (Aug 9), becoming the youngest Singaporean to medal at the Games.
He also ended his country’s eight-year wait for an Olympic podium finish, since swimmer Joseph Schooling won gold in 2016. 
But there were mixed emotions for the back-to-back world champion, after a three-race, two-day final which ended with Austria’s Valentin Bontus winning gold while Slovenia’s Toni Vodisek took silver.
“I’ll speak the truth and say I haven’t finished sulking, but I’m putting a smile on now,” said Maeder. “I still need to process everything that’s going on because, yeah, it’s a lot.”
Hwee Keng instantly recognised this as her son not wanting to disappoint.
“I know my son, he doesn’t feel good about himself … he felt like he let a lot of people down.
“I’m heartbroken because he is sad.”
But regardless of the final result at the Marseille Marina, Maeder would have known that he could always count on his parents for support and love.
His father Valentin told CNA: “Today was definitely a little sketchy with the wind … you have to have to have a little bit of luck and the right wind at the right time.
“Like I said before, we’re still proud of him win or not. He’s still the same Max,” the elder Maeder added.
“I think he really has … inspired Singapore, by bringing home a medal. It’s a nice birthday present.”
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