SINGAPORE: World champion Maximilian 'Max' Maeder delivered Singapore's first medal at the Paris Olympics after snatching bronze in the men's kite event at Marseille Marina on Friday.
The 17-year-old's achievement, which makes him Singapore's youngest Olympic medallist, came at a perfect time as the nation celebrated its 59th National Day.
The gold medal went to Valentin Bontus from Austria while Slovenia's Toni Vodisek took home silver.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, fresh from attending the National Day Parade at the Padang, took to Facebook to congratulate the kitefoiler.
"Congratulations Max on the bronze medal in kite foiling! Thank you for our beautiful birthday gift to Singapore. Wishing Team Singapore all the best in the rest of your sporting events," he said.
Meanwhile, president Tharman Shanmugaratnam is hopeful about Singapore's performance and growth at the Olympics, especially with its generation of young athletes.
"There is a new wind in Singapore sports. Just imagine – we had no Olympic medal for almost half a century after Tan Howe Liang's silver medal at the 1960 Rome Olympics.
"Yet from 2008, Team SG have now brought home three Olympic bronze (including Max's), a silver, and Joseph Schooling's historic gold," he said. – BERNAMA