Filipino-Ivorian fencer Maxine Esteban is back on her feet, after an injury halted her bid to seek qualification for the 2024 Paris Olympics last year.
Last week, the 22-year-old Esteban finished third and bagged a bronze medal in the individual women’s foil category of the 2023 African championships in Cairo, Egypt.
Esteban absorbed a 14-15 setback to two-time Olympian Nora Mohammed of Egypt, but her effort to reach the semifinals allowed her to achieve two milestones in her career.
After reaching her highest world ranking last year at no. 62, Esteban has gone even higher to end up with a new career high of no. 46 this week.
She reached the semis after beating Youssra Sakarani of Egypt, 15-8.
Her ranking has made Esteban the no. 1-ranked bet of Côte d’Ivoire, encouraging her to finally open up and express her feelings about her decision to change her nationality and pursue her Olympic goals under a new flag.
Esteban used to be the Philippines’ highest ranking foil fencer.
With her change in nationality, Esteban is now ahead of Ivorian fencer Enni Danielle Kofi, who is at no. 119 in the FIE world rankings.
“I take so much pride in both milestones because these results have helped me regain most of my confidence after nearly a year of anxiety and stress that began when I injured my ACL, also here in Cairo while representing the Philippines in the World Championships last year. Now, I can say that I am in the right physical and mental space to compete for an Olympic appearance in Paris 2024,” said Esteban in an interview with the Manila Standard.
Esteban, who thanked Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino for helping her get a waiver on a three-year holding period before the world body, FIE, said her achievements in Cairo has put her back on track of her goals.
“As you may know by now, my journey as a national athlete has taken me to a new home, Côte d’Ivoire. The past few weeks, I have been deep in preparation and competition as the Olympic qualifiers have started, and now I forge my path toward my dream of competing in the Olympics,” added Esteban.
Early this year, Esteban was cut from the Philippine national team bound for the 32nd Southeast Asian Games, while she was recovering from the injury she sustained competing in Egypt last year.
This set back her efforts to compete for the Philippines again and continue pursuing her Olympic dreams under the red, white and blue banner.
“The road ahead is still long and filled with uncertainties and challenges, but at least now, there is a road. A lot of people have been asking about my decision. Yes, I am focused on achieving my Olympic dream. However, more than that dream, it was self-respect. Sometimes, we must give ourselves enough respect to walk away from something that doesn’t value our worth,” expressed Esteban.
Esteban, who submitted her letter of appeal to the POC through Philippine Fencing Association president Richard Gomez, added that the three-year waiting period which was waived by the FIE after the POC made the appeal, has gone a long way in helping her find redemption.
“For now, I would like to express my utmost and sincere gratitude to Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino for holding the door open for this big dreamer to carve her own path toward a long-cherished goal. The honorable POC president’s request to the International Olympic Committee to waive the three-year residency so I can compete under the flag of my second home, Côte d’Ivoire, will go a long way in ensuring I get a decent and fair shot at competing in Paris in the 2024 Olympics,” said Esteban.
Early this month, Esteban finally got to compete for Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) in the individual foil event of the Tblisi World Cup of fencing in Tblisi, Georgia.
Esteban managed to reach the round of 128, where she bowed to Valerie Cheng of Hong Kong, 10-15.
“That is, after all, the only thing I had ever wanted: A fair chance. And Mr. Tolentino’s request for that waiver shows his desire to give every Filipino an opportunity to accomplish their sporting dreams, no matter from what shores those dreams are fulfilled,” said Esteban.
With Esteban’s change in nationality, Maricar Matienzo became the Philippines’ no. 1 women’s foil fencer, at world no 177, followed by Justine Gail Tinio (179).
Penn State University bet Samantha Catantan, who was injured during the SEA Games, has dropped to third, and has a world ranking of 191, from 90th last year.