'I don't think about what's happened in the past': Singapore's Max Maeder is all about consistency amid change
But fame has also provided the teenager, described by his father in a previous interview as "sincerely contribution-minded", with a bigger platform to contribute.
"It's a great thing to be able to have something behind the words: 'I want to contribute' ... It's no longer some plan; pipe dream in the future," said Maeder.
"It is something that you are doing actively or that you're in the process of doing ... And it's great."
This year has not been without challenges, including a injury to his right shoulder - sustained in a crash during training two months ago - which Maeder described as the worst he's ever had.
'I was warming up ... the wind was strong, but I wasn't traveling at a high speed. It was relatively low speed. So as I fell down and had the crash, I thought: 'Oh, it's so slow' ... and I didn't tense up, I didn't prepare myself, I didn't brace," Maeder explained.
"And then the strong winds pulled a little bit harder than I was anticipating ... The first thing I noticed was my shoulder is not moving right. It does not feel like it's moving in the right position."
His shoulder joint clicked back into place 30 seconds later, and Maeder was able to compete in a regatta 10 days later.
"Since the injury, I competed in two events where I felt nothing. It's just to be prudent and (to have) added care, to strengthen the shoulder muscles a little bit and decrease the risk (with exercises)," said Maeder.
He has at least three competitions pencilled in for the second half of 2025, including the World Championships and the SEA Games, should the sport be included.
The plan is to put in the work with his younger brother Karl, along with the latter's training partner and coach.
And of the many insights gleaned throughout his still-blossoming sporting career, a recent one is to accept that he will not be the best at certain times.
"You don't beat yourself up about stuff that you did badly, or you don't celebrate a win for too long," he added.
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