Max Maeder received the perfect birthday present on Sunday.
Singapore’s Olympic hero wrapped up a dominant display over the weekend on Lake Traunsee to take home gold at the KiteFoil World Series Austria.
The 17-year-old showed no signs of Olympic hangover as he cruised to the title just a few days shy of his 18th birthday.
“I took 25 days out between the Games and now, so I feel refreshed and it’s good to be back,” Maeder was quoted as saying by the International Kiteboarding Association.
The Singaporean beat training partner Martin Dolenc for gold while Olympic champion Valentin Bontus finished seventh.
Maeder’s victory in Austria also marked the first time he has used his new gear – the smaller 21 sqm Flysurfer V3 kite and the R6 edition of the Levitaz foil and mast combination – in high-level competition.