SINGAPORE: Maximilian Maeder successfully defended his kitefoiling world title after winning the men’s event at the 2024 Formula Kite World Championships on Sunday (May 19).
The 17-year-old saw off Italy’s world No 1 Riccardo Pianosi, Austria’s Valentin Bontus and France’s Axel Mazzella to take gold in Hyeres, France.
Maeder went into the final day of competition as the favourite, having topped the opening series. This gave him a bye to the final and he did not compete in the semi-finals which were also held on Sunday.
The Singaporean also carried two race wins into the final as a result of his commanding win in the opening series.
He needed to win just one race out of four to defend his title as, based on the competition format, the first competitor to three wins in the final wins gold. Maeder went on to win the first race in the final.
“(It feels) just as punchy as the first (world title),” Maeder said in an interview with the event’s broadcaster following the race. “Just as emotional, just as tight, and this is rare but I’m at a loss for words, I’m just trying to process this right now.”
