THE gloomy weather failed to rain on the parade of the world’s finest athletes at the scenic Seine River, with the romantic Eiffel Tower serving as backdrop in the Paris Olympics opening last Friday (early Saturday morning in Manila).
Bannered by flag bearers Carlo Paalam and Nesthy Petecio of boxing and led by Philippine Olympic Committee President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, Team Philippines was in high spirits even if the 16-strong contingent had to wear raincoats.
Amid the glitz and glamor of the Greatest Show on Earth, the raincoats were just fine but the sigh of two familiar faces suiting up with different flags remained a gnawing “what-could-have-been.”
Now playing for Japan, world No. 6 golfer Yuka Saso and fencer Maxine Esteban, representing the Ivory Coast, also showed up in the grandiose sail but not in the same boat as the Filipino bets.
Saso, 23, saw action for the Philippines in the 2020 Tokyo Games where she wound up tied for ninth–barely a month after her historic maiden triumph in the US Women’s Open.
Born to a Japanese father and a Filipina mother from San Ildefonso, Bulacan, Saso shifted nationality in early 2022.
Japanese law prohibits dual citizenship once an individual turns 22 years old, prompting Saso to make the move that initially had Pinoy sports fans and armchair pundits drawing comparisons to what chess wizard Wesley So did in 2013 when he moved to represent the United States.
Explaining her move later, Saso disclosed that she chose the Japanese passport because it opened doors more easily.
Esteban, 23, switched federations last year after the Philippine Fencing Association dropped her from the national team while she was recuperating from an ACL injury. She has since moved to No. 27 in the world.
Saso and Esteban have one thing in mind: Winning it all in the French capital.
“While living out the Olympic dream is an achievement in itself, now that I am here, I would very much like to continue my fencing goals. Definitely, winning a medal is the ultimate goal, but even if that becomes out of reach, I am hoping to at least continue building on my world ranking so I can make the most out of the experience here in Paris.
“Making it to the top 20 definitely would be a step in that direction,” she added.
The best is certainly yet to come for Esteban.
“I’ve always said that the Paris Olympics as a goal was never meant to be the final destination. It is a major part of my fencing journey,” she said. “I hope to accomplish more through hard work so I can inspire young fencers in both Ivory Coast and the Philippines.”
There’s no telling how far Saso and Esteban can go in the Games, but it would be great to see them winning it all. If only they were doing it for the Philippines.
