SINGAPORE – It has been a season of change for Singaporean kitefoiler Maximilian Maeder, who has had to navigate some new challenges and experiences after his triumph at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
With a new Olympic cycle came equipment changes, and the 19-year-old also shook up his coaching set-up ahead of his next Olympic bid in Los Angeles in 2028.
Afier spending five years with coach Ivica Dolenc, Maeder began training with the Swiss team under coach Matthieu Giro in mid-2025.
The teenager is still settling into the new partnership after a 2024 season that saw him winning nearly all his events and
an Olympic bronze
.
His 2025 campaign has had some speed bumps. In his most recent event at the Formula Kite Youth World Championships, he placed fourth, finishing outside the podium in an official event for the first time since 2021.
He said: “In review, I would say, (it’s been) a lot of growth and a lot of change, and perhaps definitely very much new perspectives, new mindsets, and for the long-term, I like that I’ve had a season like this and I like the potential in the future.
“But of course the events themselves are a little bit of a bitter taste in the mouth but I believe that it’s all for the best and the most important thing I can do is take away as much as I can for these events.”
Maeder’s 2025 season got off to a strong start as he retained his Trofeo Princesa Sofia Regatta title in April, before placing second at the French Olympic Week.
The two-time world champion then won the European championships, following that up with two second-place finishes at the youth European championships and the world championships.
His fourth-placed finish at the Formula Kite Youth World Championship was on Nov 1.
Putting the year into perspective, Maeder said it was “by no means a horrible season”, adding that it was about “taking the right perspective” and learning from those events.
In a season of new experiences, Maeder will make his maiden appearance at the Thailand SEA Games in December, when kitefoiling is making its debut at the regional competition.
On Nov 5, he was unveiled as part of the 11-strong sailing contingent at the SEA Games media press conference held at the National Sailing Centre.
Also travelling to Pattaya and Sattahip is two-time Olympian Ryan Lo, who will be defending his ILCA 7 crown.
The 28-year-old, who is making his fifth SEA Games appearance, returned to competition earlier in the year after taking a post-Olympic break.
During his hiatus, he enrolled in James Cook University to pursue a degree in international business. While laser sailing took a backseat, he explored new activities like wingfoiling and even joined a local cycling race.
But he was back in his boat within four or five months.
His comeback was sparked by the 2025 ILCA 7 Men’s & ILCA 6 Women’s World Championships in Qingdao in May, and his goal of qualifying for the 2026 Asian Games in Japan.
While he did not miss laser sailing during his break, racing again made him realise what he had missed.
He said: “Once I started to go back, the racing aspect is very unique and cannot be replicated.
“It’s just the tactic and strategy involved and close racing that made a big difference about what I wanted to try again.”
He placed 14th in China, the highest finish by a Singaporean at the ILCA 7 Men’s World Championships.
With the Asian Games held in Gamagori, Japan, Lo, the reigning Asiad ILCA 7 champion, felt the forecast of light to medium winds also suited him more after he lost about 6kg during his break.
Lo has spent more time in Singapore, which allows him to focus on areas he previously could not, such as strengthening certain muscle groups, while also making three to four trips to New Zealand in 2025 to train with their team.
Coaching young up-and-coming sailors in the past year and sparring with them has also motivated him.
Looking towards the SEA Games, he said: “I’m still as excited as the first one. I just like the thrill of going to a high-pressure situation and the Games’ atmosphere.
“People say pressure is a privilege and it’s something that I cherish and appreciate.”
Looking forward to her first SEA Games is Optimist sailor Anya Zahedi, who at 12 is the youngest member of the squad.
Anya, who was the top female sailor at the 2025 Optimist Asian & Oceanian Championships, said: “I feel really excited because it’s my first time representing Singapore at a major games and I want to learn a lot of stuff from this experience.”
Singapore Sailing performance pathways manager Soh Ling Ying said: “We’re proud to have a team that blends experience with new talent. The senior sailors bring with them a wealth of knowledge from international competition, and we hope they can share their experiences, insights, and stories with the younger members.
“For the younger sailors, the SEA Games present an excellent opportunity to learn, grow, and gain exposure that will serve them well in future major games.”
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