Stomper to Maeder's mum: 'I hope my two young daughters will be like Max when they grow up'
A mother of two was so moved by Formula Kite Racer Maximillian Maeder winning a bronze medal for Singapore at the Paris Olympics on National Day that she wanted to share a message with his mother.
Stomper Shanice said she does not have a social media account and hopes her words will reach Maximillian's mum Teng Hwee Keng.
To Ms Teng, the Stomper wrote:
Your son, Max - 17-year-old Singaporean Olympian fighter - is the icing on our nation's birthday cake this year. When I first saw Max in his sailing gear out in the waters of the Paris Olympic Games, I told my husband I felt like Singapore was sending a 17-year-old boy to war. His shoulders were heavily burdened and he carried them forward bravely, nonetheless. I cried with Max when I saw a picture of him crumbling in the arms of his coach after his final race. Max deserved to win and so I knew that telling him that he was "only 17 and has a bright future ahead for the next Olympic Games" would hardly be any comfort for his hurt and pain. But Max mustn't forget that he is a true "war hero" of Singapore in my family's eyes. His young but unrelenting fighting spirit, exhibited in his Olympic races, was unlike anything Singapore has ever seen before. I hope my two young daughters will be like Max when they grow up. Max has a gift in kitefoiling and our hearts are filled to the brim with warmth and gratitude, knowing that he has chosen to honour his gift for Singapore. Holding Max and your family in our thoughts, Tan family
While what Maximilian achieved is no small feat - he is Singapore's youngest medallist at the Olympic Games - the fiercely competitive teenager has high expectations of himself.
His medal is just the Republic's sixth at the Olympics and it was no surprise given his track record in recent years. In 2024, he swept every trophy on offer, including retaining his world championship title.
With kitefoiling set to feature at the 2028 Los Angeles Games, Maximilian is already looking forward to the next one.
