SINGAPORE – It is not often that Maximilian Maeder finishes last in a race, but on one occasion during the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023, the Singapore kitefoiler constantly found himself at the back of the pack.

These were not races on water, though. Instead, they took place on the virtual race tracks of popular video game Mario Kart, which Maeder and his fellow sailors were playing to unwind during the multi-sport meet in China.

Even though it was just a video game, the teenager – who won a kitefoiling gold medal off the coasts of Ningbo during that Asiad – refused to back down from a challenge.

Recalling the memory in amusement, the 18-year-old said: “I was frustrated so much by that one night of Mario Kart when I finished last, last, last, that I went back, read about it, did research, watched YouTube videos, practised, and then the next day came back and managed to win the races because I was so upset that I finished last in a little video game.”

The Paris Olympics bronze medallist reminisced about this moment at *Scape on Aug 5, during the unveiling of Singapore’s Sports Champions, a children’s book series that celebrates the journeys of eight Singaporean athletes.

Spearheaded by the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) in conjunction with SG60, the series comprises six books.

They document the stories of footballers Irfan, Ikhsan and Ilhan Fandi; 2021 badminton world champion Loh Kean Yew; two-time world champion Maeder; Asian Games gold-winning sprinter Shanti Pereira; Olympic swimming champion Joseph Schooling; and golfer Shannon Tan, a two-time winner on the Ladies European Tour.

The series is part of SNOC’s broader mission to promote the Olympic spirit in Singapore and inspire young people through stories of local athletes.

Maeder’s “comeback victory” in the video game, which demonstrates the reigning Sportsman of the Year’s willingness to learn from defeat, can be found in the book on him.

In her speech, SNOC president Grace Fu said: “This book series honours each of our Team Singapore athletes and through their journeys, we hope to spark the imagination of the next generation because there’s no better way to inspire young people than through real life role models, those who’ve scaled the pinnacles of their sport and those who are still on their way up.”

The books were authored by Chen Jei Min, Matthew Gan, Claire Lum, Jaime Niam, Puah Rui Xian and Derek Wong from content and communications agency The Nutgraf.

Wong said: “Children in Singapore are familiar with the stories of global sports stars like Lionel Messi. Finally, they can read all about champions from these very shores, Singaporeans who are just like them.” 

World No. 9 Loh, who also attended the launch, hopes his book, which details the challenges and successes of his sporting career, will serve as encouragement for aspiring athletes and generate more support for local sports.

(From left) Singapore Golf Association chief executive Joshua Ho; May Yim Schooling; Singapore kitefoiler Max Maeder; SNOC president Grace Fu; Jeet and Clarence Pereira; Singapore badminton player Loh Kean Yew; and Fandi Ahmad and his daughter Iman Fandi at the launch of Singapore’s Sports Champions.

ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY

“To be featured in this book is quite an honour and it feels like I can leave something for the next generation and hopefully inspire them,” said the multiple SEA Games medallist, who has 10 career titles.

“Hopefully after they read the book and they share it around, there will be more people in Singapore involved in sports and supporting Team Singapore athletes.”

Maeder expressed surprise that his life is now chronicled in a book, saying: “It’s a wonderful thing to have a book written about you and be able to share that type of story.

“It’s inspiring to see that there is so much will to put stories out there and so much good reception about it, so genuinely I’m very happy about it.”

Max Maeder and Loh Kean Yew signing autographs at the launch of Singapore?s Sports Champions.

ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY

Like Loh, he hopes that the series will have a positive impact on those who read it.

He said: “I think it’s a lot up to their own interpretation – it’s really what you read and what you see.

“I only hope that what they do see and pick up will give them a bit of a spark to take that step, to make that decision that ultimately ends up being a great one for them down the line.”

Those interested to purchase the books can go to

nutgraf.com.sg/books

.

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