Started at the age of 12, Maxine Esteban is an eight-time national champion multi-SEA Games medalist, UAAP Rookie of the Year and MVP, Lady Eagle of the Year Awardee, The Queen Eagle and currently ranked 35th highest-ranked fencer globally as per the Federation Internatioale d’Escrime.
You would already know how bright her future is not just in the sports she’s passionate about but also in life.
Now 23, Maxine is already an Olympics qualifier for the 2024 Paris Olympics happening this July until August 2024. A full-blooded Filipino representing Cote d Ivoire, a country in West Africa.
But why isn’t she representing the Philippines?
In 2022, while recovering from a surgery she had to go through while competing for the country, she was removed from the Philippine National team without notice even after fighting hard for any statement as to why but she failed to get any. And because the Olympics qualifiers was only weeks away, she decided to switch nationality representation. The Ivory Coast (Cote d Ivoire) welcomed Maxine into their team. And within two months, she won a Bronze medal in teh African championship and in less than a year, she qualiified directly in the Paris Olympics. The first pure-blooded Filipina to qualify in this year’s Olympics.
And now, she is an Olympian representing two nations – her home country and the country that embraced her.
But what keeps Maxine focused and passionate about the sport even after the issues and the surgeries?
“I really love fencing. When the time I started, I liked it because it taught me how to have the grace of a woman and the strength of a man. I started fencing because I saw it in a movie called ’ Parent Trap,’ and it was really cool and the outfit was so nice but in the process of it, I really loved fencing because in fencing kasi you have to think a lot. It’s not just speed. You have to know the distance and the time when to attack. That’s what I like about it, you have to think about every single move. Every single move has to be a calculated move and that’s like physical chess.”
How ready is Maxine for the 2024 Paris Olympics?
“I’m still continuing training every single day. Hopefully, when it’s time to compete with the other girls, I’ll be 100% ready.”
Recently, Maxine won Silver in the African Championships 2024, “Missed the gold by 1 point but I’m so grateful for this! 🥹God is so gracious. Thank you so much to everyone who helped me get this!! To God be the glory! ❤️☺️,” Maxine shares on her Instagram.
Watch our coverage of the pocket interview with Maxine below:
HYPE MANIA 