Esteban clinches slot to Paris Olympics, thanks to…

- Advertisement -

UNDER different circumstances, fencer Maxine Esteban’s successful bid for the Paris Summer Games would be something the country would be proud of.

ON TO PARIS: Maxine Esteban whoops it up in Washington, D.C.

Sadly, that honor now goes to Esteban’s adopted African country, the Ivory Coast, after the foil fencer announced on Facebook early yesterday morning (Saturday night in the US) that she had qualified for Paris after competing in the Fencing Gear FIE Foil Grand Prix in Washington, D.C., an Olympic ranking meet.

Ranked No. 37 in women’s individual foil of the International Fencing Federation, known by its French acronym FIE, Esteban nipped South Korea’s Kim Hyunjin 15-13 in the table of 128 then lost to Slovakia’s Adeline Senic-9-15 in the table of 64.

- Advertisement -

Esteban finished tied for 83rd place, but it was good enough to secure a quota place in the African zone.

Her accomplishment was picked up by the Ivorian sports website La Police du Sport (The Sports Police) on its FB page, which, translated in English, said: “Ivorian fencer Maxine Isabel Esteban distinguished herself by qualifying for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

“Maxine Esteban delivered an outstanding performance, securing a well-deserved place at the Olympic Games. Her remarkable journey is a testament to her commitment, undeniable talent, and unwavering determination on the fencing track.”

On the other hand, Filipina fencer Samantha Catantan finished 75th after losing to Maria Teresa Diaz of Spain 12-15 in the Table of 64.

On her Facebook page, Esteban was overjoyed shortly after punching her Olympic ticket to Paris.

“I am at a loss for words… This journey is truly a testimony of God’s faithfulness. Today, I am in awe of His love for me and I am grateful He has carried me through. For all the 2nd chances, opened windows, miraculous feats, and generous provisions, thank you Heavenly Father.

“The significance of the Olympic stage… is not the event. It is what it symbolizes… unwavering passion and discipline. May I inspire those who dream and have at one point almost given up, to persist amidst storms and rough waters.”

She tipped her hat to her adopted country while not forgetting her Philippine roots, saying: “This is for Cote d’Ivoire, the country that embraced me, believed in me and supported me all the way, and for the Philippines, the country my heart will always beat proud.”

Last year, Esteban hogged the spotlight when she announced that she was switching federations, claiming “unfair and unjust” treatment by the Philippine Fencing Association that was then headed by Ormoc, Leyte Rep. Richard Gomez.

The PFA is now headed by Rene Gacuma, the former secretary general of the group.

A silver medalist in the team event in the 2022 Vietnam Southeast Asian Games, she claimed that she was dropped from the national team without due notice while recovering from an ACL injury.

“I did not give up on my country, I gave up on the federation because they gave up on me first,” Esteban said on the Power and Play podcast of former PBA commissioner Noli Eala. “I was removed from the national team roster without even being given the courtesy of a written nor a face-to-face notice and I was a member of the national team for eight years with good standing.”

The eight-time Philippine national champion and World Cup multi-medalist said her journey will continue in Paris, where she gets to compete against the world’s best fencers.

“This is not the end,” she said of her qualification. “This is just part of the ongoing journey.

There will be more days of hard work ahead, all to make sure that I won’t be satisfied with just making an appearance at the Paris Olympics but use that grand stage as a chance to compete and test myself again.”

As she begins preparing for the Paris Games, Esteban is hoping she will not be the only Filipino fencer seeing action in this year’s Olympiad.

“I am praying that the Philippines will be able to qualify more fencers in April,” Esteban said, referring to a wild card tournament next month that will be participated in by Asian countries that failed to directly qualify for the Olympics.

- Advertisement -spot_img

Author

- Advertisement -

Share post: