Commentary: Treasure him, Singapore. In 17-year-old Max Maeder, you have a gem

MARSEILLE: As the lack of wind wreaked havoc day after day on sun-baked Marseille during the 2024 Paris Olympics, the waiting game for the men's kitefoiling event wore on.

Reporters were stressed, photographers were tired, and a nation was on tenterhooks.

But a 17-year-old Singaporean, the youngest in the fleet and in his country's contingent, did not complain. Instead, he played chess, listened to classical music and replied messages of encouragement on social media.

And after a volatile few days of stop-and-start racing, Maximilian Maeder finished third overall in his event on Friday (Aug 9). Austria's Valentin Bontus won gold, while Slovenia's Toni Vodisek took silver.

Maeder's bronze medal ended Singapore’s eight-year wait for an Olympic podium finish since swimmer Joseph Schooling's historic gold in 2016.

Yet beyond the medal, and the buzz over his undeniable talent, what is most remarkable about Maeder is his character.

Watch just about any interview with Maeder, and what immediately stands out is his maturity.

“Every time you speak, I don’t know what to say," said 19-year-old Vodisek of his younger counterpart at the post-victory ceremony press conference. “I feel sometimes when Max is speaking, he’s older than me," added 23-year-old Bontus.

In a Facebook post, Singapore's President Tharman Shanmugaratnam said: “Max is mature beyond his years – his teenage smile and traces of puppy fat are deceptive. There is a new wind in Singapore sports."

Foreign journalists have also been won over. After a seven-minute interview in German - Maeder speaks multiple languages - his interviewer remarked to Singaporean journalists how the back-to-back world champion's poise was of somebody's far beyond his tender age.

Much of this is down to