Singapore, 5 April 2025 - Singaporean kitefoiler Maximilian Maeder has been named The Straits Times (ST) Athlete of the Year 2024, presented by 100PLUS, for his historic achievements in the 2024 season.
In August 2024, the 18-year-old put Singapore on the map by clinching a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics, becoming the nation’s youngest Olympic medallist. The win capped a phenomenal season for Maeder, who won nearly all events on the international kitefoiling circuit, including the European and world championships and the overall title in the KiteFoil World Series. For his achievements, he was named World Sailing’s male Young World Sailor of the Year in November 2024.
The young kitefoiler had emerged top among a pool of six nominees for ST Athlete of the Year 2024, comprising golfer Shannon Tan, seven-time Paralympic swimming champion Yip Pin Xiu, darts player Paul Lim, boccia player Jeralyn Tan and silat world champion Sheik Farhan Sheik Alau’ddin.
The winner was selected by a panel of judges from the ST Sports Desk and members of the sports fraternity:
- Mr James Wong, Chief Sub-Editor (Sports Desk), ST
- Ms Low Lin Fhoong, Sports Editor, ST
- Mr Rohit Brijnath, Assistant Sports Editor, ST
- Mr Tan Kim Han, Deputy Sports Editor, ST
- Mr Leon Neo, Chief Executive, Basketball Association of Singapore
- Ms Jessica Tan, National Badminton Player
- Mr Valeri Obidko, National Jumps Coach
Maeder, who is currently competing at the 54th Trofeo Princesa Sofia Regatta in Spain, was also a nominee of ST Athlete of the Year in 2022, 2023 and 2024. He said, “I am, once again, surprised out of the big pool of athletes that I'm the lucky one to get picked. I'm honoured to receive the award. It's always very, very nice to see in your journey, the recognition for the effort and work that you put in. But this is not something I receive alone. It's always very, very important to recognise that I am here because of the many others who have helped and supported me. Of course, the other athletes that have had a stellar 2024 should not be forgotten. I've had the opportunity to meet and speak with some of them. I'm surprised by how much determination, how much grit, how much passion goes into sporting in general, in Singapore.”
Mr Jaime Ho, Editor of The Straits Times, said, “Max’s story is an incredible one - resilience, determination, and his unflinching pursuit of excellence at such a young age! His achievements on the world stage are of course a testament to this maturity. But beyond these accolades, it's his willingness to connect with others through his sport and the impact of his success beyond the sporting arena that set him apart, making him a truly deserving winner of The Straits Times Athlete of the Year award. Our congratulations go to his parents and family as well!”
Mr Winston Seow, Director, Commercial, F&N Foods, said, “Since 2009, 100PLUS has been the proud presenter of The Straits Times Athlete of the Year award, a testament to our dedication to Singapore’s sporting excellence. This year’s nominees, through their unwavering commitment, have inspired us all and brought joy and glory to our nation. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Maximilian Maeder on his well-deserved win. His phenomenal 2024 season, a testament to his exceptional talent and unwavering perseverance, showcases the extraordinary potential of Singaporean athletes. As 100PLUS continues to champion the pursuit of athletic excellence, we remain dedicated to empowering athletes to reach their highest potential, enabling peak performance through optimal hydration.”
Launched in 2009 in partnership with sponsors 100PLUS and F&N, the ST Athlete of the Year award celebrates the achievements of Singaporean athletes. Past winners include Olympic champion Joseph Schooling, sprinter Shanti Pereira and para-swimming star Yip Pin Xiu. The award also goes beyond medals, as it recognises the inspiring work that the athletes do behind the scenes, in the community or with young Singaporeans.
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