Former Filipino fencer Maxine Esteban said the reason she switched allegiance was she felt her worth wasn’t valued enough.
That’s how strongly she broke her silence on why she decided to represent the Ivory Coast in her quest to make it to the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“Sometimes, we must give ourselves enough respect to walk away from something that doesn’t value our worth,” Esteban said in a statement. “I want everyone to know that I did everything humanely possible to fulfill this long-time dream with the Filipino flag sewn on my uniform. But a series of unfortunate events — very little of which I had any control over — forced me to chase my dream in a distant, yet familiar land.”
Esteban, a former Ateneo de Manila University star, said she didn’t want to give up representing the Philippines.
But unexpected circumstances left her no choice but to represent another country.
“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,” Esteban said.
Last 31 May, news broke out about Esteban’s switch as she will not represent the Philippines, the country she has fought for since 2018, anymore.
“I have fought long and hard for our country, encountering failures along the way. But I have also savored the thrill of winning for our flag. I remember being the only Filipino to win a medal in the Junior World Cup, back when I also was ranked 16th among juniors in the world, and also being the only Filipino to medal twice in the Senior Satellite World Cup,” Esteban said.
“I guess sometimes, life just takes you on a different path than you had initially planned.”
She promises to give the whole picture one day but for now, she is earning precious International Fencing Federation points to qualify for the Summer Games.
“I will tell my story someday, that much I can guarantee. There is so much to learn from my experience, every heartache and frustration I had to endure so that the things I went through never happen to any Filipino athlete again — especially those who dream of flying the Philippine flag on sports’ grandest stage,” Esteban said.
“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.”
“That is, after all, the only thing I had ever wanted: A FAIR CHANCE.”
Still, the 22-year-old fencer said she will still carry the Philippines with her despite now fighting for a different country.
“If through my efforts, God rewards me with success, know that whatever triumphs I gain is a triumph of the Philippines as it is of the Ivory Coast,” said Esteban, who is currently at No. 46 in the FIE rankings in women’s foil.
“Because no matter what stage I will compete in, be it in a small tournament or — God willing — in the Olympics, the flag I represent only tells half the story. In my heart, I will always carry two inspirations: The land of my birth and the country I now call home.”
Apart from being a four-time University Athletic Association of the Philippines champion, Esteban was also an eight-time national champion and bronze medalist at the Junior World Cup in 2018, the Senior Satellite World Cup in 2021 and the U23 European Circuit.
She snagged silver medals in the Senior World Cup in 2021 in Tashkent and in the 31st SEA Games in Vietnam in 2022.
