Maximilian Maeder and Lauriane Nolot: Olympic Gold Medal Favorites in Formula Kite
Maximilian Maeder and Lauriane Nolot have established themselves as the gold medal favorites for the men's and women's Formula Kite classes at the 2024 Olympics. Both kiters are current double world champions, having clinched titles in the 2023 and 2024 championships. Their back-to-back victories solidified their status as the best in the world, showcasing their ability to perform under pressure—a crucial trait for Olympic success.
Despite their shared dominance, their paths to success in Formula Kite have been markedly different. One forged a solo path, while the other thrived with the support of an established national development and Olympic program, demonstrating multiple routes to high-performance sailing success.
Shared Traits and Divergent Paths
Shared Traits
Both athletes exhibit the core characteristics of all champions: the desire to be the best, unbridled passion, and a full-time commitment to their sport. Additionally, their families' encouragement and support have played significant roles in their journeys. Notably, both have ensured their formal education is not an afterthought but an important priority, balancing academic pursuits with their athletic careers.
Divergent Paths
Lauriane Nolot comes from a country with a rich tradition of 'wind sailing' (windsurfing and kiting) and Olympic sailing. She benefits from a structured national development program and a strong squad culture. In contrast, Max Maeder has carved out his own path, training independently and pushing the boundaries to earn his nation's first Olympic sailing medal potentially.
Maximilian Maeder: A Solo Journey to Greatness
Maximillian (Max) Maeder is a highly accomplished Formula Kite sailor from Singapore who has achieved remarkable success at a young age.
Early Life and Introduction to Kiteboarding
17-year-old Maeder, born on September 12, 2006, in Singapore, began kiteboarding at the age of six, thanks to his Swiss father. By ten years old, he had transitioned to kite foiling, setting the stage for his remarkable career.
Major Achievements
Three-time Formula Kite Youth World Champion (2021-2023)
Reigning Formula Kite World Champion (2023 and 2024)
Asian Games Gold Medalist
Dominated the 2024 European Championships, winning 18 out of 20 races
Five consecutive event wins leading into the Olympics, including the 2024 Formula Kite European and World Championships
First Impression
I first met Max Maeder at a training camp in Croatia in September 2022. He and his Croatian training partner, Martin Dolenc, invited Kai Calder, who I was coaching at the time, and Noah Runciman, another American, to participate in a two-week session in preparation for the upcoming 2022 European and World Championships. Max had just turned 16 during the training camp.
The camp was highly structured training—race simulation: five races every day in a good breeze. Max and Martin were evenly matched in speed, but Max won every race. Even if Martin got the jump at the start and was leading around the track, Max always figured out a way to pass and finish first. Max’s mental toughness and the invisible “X” factor in his technique were unique, representing his innate ability and perception/vision to achieve next-level performance.
Max's maturity, friendliness, and willingness to share knowledge were impressive, reflecting sophistication beyond his years.
Encouraging Independence
Max's parents, Valentin Maeder, and Teng Hwee Keng, have fostered independence in their son from a young age. They allowed him to travel alone to competitions as early as age 13, trusting his ability to handle himself. This approach has helped Max develop maturity and self-reliance, essential for his athletic career.
His mother, Teng Hwee Keng, said: "He wanted to do all these things, that's why he had to be independent from a young age. I'm not going to spoon feed him because I don't have these ambitions for him, he has them for himself so he has to work for it."
Homeschooling: A Path to Balance and Excellence
While waiting for the wind to arrive during the Croatian training camp, I noticed Max engrossed in a thick book titled “World History of Social Economics.” Listening to him discuss its contents, it became clear that he was far from an average 16-year-old kite sailor. His English, Mandarin, German, and French fluency further underscored his intellectual prowess.
Max's parents, Valentin Maeder, and Teng Hwee Keng, recognized early on the necessity for Max to organize his learning efforts independently. They believed that traditional classroom settings would not accommodate the demands of competing at the highest levels in kite foiling. Consequently, the family opted for homeschooling, which allowed Max to balance his intense training and competition schedule with his academic pursuits. This approach has fostered his intellectual growth, self-discipline, and time management skills, essential traits for a world-class athlete.
“Making it to the top of a discipline is realistic if you put in enough passion, make life choices that allow for a certain outcome, and then try, think, and train your way there. Applying these principles lead to relaxed and elegant performance, which is the motto of our little world school.” - Valentin Maeder & Hwee Keng
The family sought mature athletes to mentor Max, allowing him to train with and learn from experienced competitors. This approach helped him develop his skills while maintaining his educational commitments. In the past year, British kiteboarder Jemima Crathorne has tutored Max in STEM subjects, providing specialized support for his academic needs.
Training and Mentorship
National training squads are the exception on the men’s side of Formula Kiting. The men kiters form “training groups,” partnerships of riders from different countries.
Max spends significant time in Croatia, training with Martin Dolenc under the guidance of Jonny Dolenc, Martin's father and coach. This partnership has been instrumental in Max's development, providing high-caliber training and consistent performance. Jonny Dolenc's expertise and guidance have elevated Maeder's skills to a world-class level.
Funding and Support
Max's family, sponsors, Sports Singapore, and the Singapore Sailing Federation (SSF) support his training and competition expenses. While exploring potential National Service deferment, his parents emphasize his future duty to serve and the importance of his role in inspiring others and bringing pride to Singapore.
Pursuit Of Mastery
Maeder admits he is a perfectionist, although he doubts if he can claim to have achieved mastery of his sport.
“It’s more the pursuit of mastery, and my pursuit happens to be in kiteboarding. I think if you ask any artist or craftsman, that pursuit doesn’t ever truly stop. But the journey can be very rewarding.” By Andy Rice, World Sailing Event Correspondent
Lauriane Nolot: Harnessing Structured Support for Success
Early Life and Introduction to Kiteboarding
25-year-old Lauriane Nolot was born in Toulon, France. Initially a horse rider, she transitioned to kite foiling at 19, influenced by her family's passion for water sports.
Major Achievements
World Championships: Gold (2023, 2024), Silver (2022), Bronze (2021)
European Championships: Gold (2022, 2024), Bronze (2021)
Multiple-time French national champion
Named Sailor of the Year by the French Sailing Federation in 2023
Nominated for 2023 World Sailing's Rolex Sailor of the Year.
Nolot is also a soldier and part of the Centre National des Sports de la défense, which supports elite athletes in France.
Educational Background
Lauriane balanced her secondary education with her burgeoning kite foiling career. She attended the University of Toulon, earning a master's degree in digital creation, which offered the flexibility needed to manage her academic and athletic commitments.
While studying for her master's degree, Nolot transitioned from kite surfing to kitefoiling. She joined Ariane Imbert's training program in Hyères, her home waters, while simultaneously pursuing her studies. Ariane Imbert is the French National Formula Kite coach.
Squad Training and Expert Coaching
The French Sailing Federation has increased its Formula Kite resources since its inclusion as an Olympic discipline.
Nolot trains under Ariane Imbert, the French National Formula Kite coach. Imbert's athlete-centered approach, which includes intensive training camps and detailed performance analysis, has been pivotal in Lauriane's success.
Imbert has been working closely with Nolot and the French Formula Kite team in preparation for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. She has been coaching Nolot since she joined the training program in Hyères. Under her guidance, Nolot has achieved significant success, including multiple World and European championship titles. Imbert employs an athlete-centered approach, putting Nolot at the center of her training program and allowing her to take responsibility for her development. Imbert runs intensive training camps and analyzes every aspect of Nolot's performance using a detailed scoring system.
Squad Dominance
The French squad, featuring Lauriane Nolot, Poema Newland, and Jessie Kampman, has demonstrated remarkable dominance in major competitions. Their outstanding performance was highlighted at the 2024 World Championship, where Nolot claimed first place, Kampman took third, and Newland secured fourth. This success was mirrored at the 2024 European Championship, where the trio swept the podium, taking the top three positions.
Reflecting on their achievements, Nolot remarked, "Honestly, we have all been training so hard this winter; I haven't seen many people training as much as we did."
Their rigorous training and relentless dedication have clearly paid off, establishing them as the sport's top contenders.
Federation Support
The French Sailing Federation provides extensive support, including multiple coaches, intensive training camps, top-tier equipment, and advanced performance analysis. This comprehensive backing ensures that Holot can perform at her best.
The federation funds multiple coaches, including Ariane Imbert and Antoine Weiss, to ensure comprehensive training and development for the athletes. This allows for specialized coaching and more focused attention on the athletes' needs.
Imbert has been instrumental in preparing Nolot for the Olympic Games, focusing on both technical skills and mental preparation. She has been working with Nolot and the French team at the Olympic venue in Marseille since early 2023 as part of the Olympic preparation.
The venue in Marseille is less than an hour from Holot’s home, providing her with a unique advantage and support from local fans and family.
Lauriane Nolot's journey from horse rider to world champion kite foiler is a testament to her dedication, skill, and strong support from her family and the French Sailing Federation. As she prepares for the Paris 2024 Olympics, Nolot continues to inspire with her achievements and relentless pursuit of excellence in Formula Kite.
Conclusion
Maximilian Maeder and Lauriane Nolot have reached the pinnacle of Formula Kite sailing through different paths, becoming favorites for the gold medals at the 2024 Olympics. Their unique journeys underscore the diversity in achieving excellence in high-performance sports.
Max's independent approach, characterized by homeschooling and international training partnerships, has fostered a high degree of self-reliance and adaptability. Lauriane's structured path within the French national program has provided her with robust support, expert coaching, and a strong competitive squad environment.
However, Max's path lacks the consistent support and resources found in national programs, which can be challenging for sustained development. On the other hand, Lauriane's reliance on a structured program may limit exposure to diverse training methods and environments.
Ultimately, both strategies have proven successful. Max's independent journey has built exceptional mental toughness and self-discipline, while Lauriane's structured support has resulted in outstanding competitive achievements and squad synergy. Their paths highlight that multiple routes can lead to the pinnacle of success in Formula Kite sailing.