Maeder's bronze makes him S'pore's youngest Olympic medallist

MARSEILLE With a triumphant fist pump and a flying Singapore flag, kitefoiler Maximilian Maeder delivered a special birthday present for the nation on Aug 9, when the teenager claimed a bronze medal in the men's Formula Kite at the Paris Olympics.

- Kimberly Kwek

While it was not the gold medal that the two-time world champion had hoped for, the 17-year-old's achievement at the Marseille Marina marked the end of an eight-year medal drought for Singapore on the world's biggest sporting stage. It also made him the Republic's youngest Games medallist.

Olympic champion Joseph Schooling's 100m butterfly gold at Rio 2016 was the last medal won by a Singaporean at the Games, and Maximilian's is only the sixth for the nation since 1960.

And it was apt that his Olympic bronze came as the National Day fireworks and festivities were winding down over 10,000km away at the Padang, with the celebrations beginning anew as news of his feat spread throughout the island.

From politicians and national athletes, to members of the public and netizens, Singaporeans basked in the success of one of their own.