'Beautiful birthday gift': Singapore leaders congratulate Max Maeder on Olympic bronze

SINGAPORE: Following Maximilian Maeder's podium finish at the Paris Games, Singapore leaders swiftly hailed his historic performance as the country's youngest Olympic medallist. 

Maeder, 17, clinched the kitefoiling bronze at the Marseille Marina in France on Friday (Aug 9).

It is Singapore's first Olympic medal in eight years, and the country's first sailing medal at an Olympics. 

"There is a new wind in Singapore sports," President Tharman Shanmugaratnam wrote on Facebook.

"A generation of young Singaporeans is taking their sports seriously, getting stronger support and reaching higher," he added.  

"They all show what we can achieve when we - parents especially - make room for our kids to develop themselves through sports. Let them find their own game in life, and support the choices they make."

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong congratulated Maeder on the bronze, which came as Singapore celebrated its 59th year of independence. 

"Just as we completed our celebrations at the parade, Max Maeder overcame the tough conditions at sea and became the youngest Singaporean to win an Olympic medal," Mr Wong wrote."Thank you for our beautiful birthday gift to Singapore!"

The last time Singapore clinched an Olympic medal was at the 2016 Rio Games when swimmer Joseph Schooling won gold in the 100m butterfly. 

A two-time kitefoiling world champion, Maeder's achievement takes Singapore's medal tally in the history of the Games to six - one gold, two silver and three bronze.

President Tharman noted how Singapore's sporting performance has progressed over the years.

"Just imagine -  we had no Olympic medal for almost half a century after Tan Howe Liang’s silver medal at the 1960 Rome Olympics," he wrote.

"Yet from 2008, TeamSG has now brought home