Beyond the Olympic Dream with Maxine Esteban: What’s Next for the Fencing Phenom

As the curtain falls on the Paris 2024 Olympics, Filipino-Ivorian foilist Maxine Esteban stands fearless and poised at the cusp of a new chapter in her life. Her path to glory was momentarily halted in a fierce competition against a French fencer in the women’s individual foil event at the Grand Palais last July 28. Despite being eliminated in the table of 32 with a score of 7-15, there’s no denying that Maxine raises the bar of excellence, as she earned a respectable final ranking of 23 out of 34 fencers (the highest a Philippine-born fencer has achieved).

Battling out France’s Pauline Ranvier, a silver medalist in the Tokyo 2021 Olympics, was no walk in the park for the 23-year-old athlete. Despite valiantly trying to bridge an early gap, Maxine bowed out 7-15 amidst a French packed cheering crowd. Acknowledging the sting of the loss, Maxine vowed to come back stronger and better.

Last year, Maxine made a bold move when she decided to represent Cote D’Ivoire after she was removed from the Philippine national team and refused reinstatement a few months shy from the onset of the Olympic qualifiers. But even though she waved a different flag in Paris, she made it known that her heart would still beat for the Philippines.

In an interview with Metro.Style, the wunderkind takes us on a tour down memory lane and offers a glimpse into her plans and aspirations beyond the grandeur of the Olympic platform.

A lookback: The road to Paris 2024

Brewing the dream of Olympic glory lies in the heart of an twelve-year-old Maxine. Now, after 12 years of sweat and tears, her aim to be in the ranks of Olympians has come true despite her early exit. Truth be told, Maxine’s journey to the biggest sporting event on the global stage was a wild rollercoaster of twists and turns. From grappling with severed tendons on her fencing hand and a nasty ACL injury to braving three surgeries, she had more hurdles to tackle than a high-jump track. Yet, with grit as strong as steel, the unwavering support of her loved ones, and a sprinkle of faith, she zoomed toward her goal with a spirit as unbreakable as her will.

“You know, physical wounds are easier to heal. I have healed from my three surgeries but the emotional and mental traumas are very difficult to overcome. But I think in the end, remembering the passion (why I started with my quest), being secure in the thought that I have done my best, and sticking with values of integrity and sportsmanship helped me cope with failure and cancel out the negativity and noise,” she shared.

Training with the Japan national team in Paris, Maxine honed her skills at BLR, a renowned fencing club. Her mindset entering the Olympics was a stamp to her mental fortitude. “Knowing that every single fencer who I can possibly be up against, going into the table of 16, is either a world champion or a seasoned Olympian gives me the peace of mind and the encouragement,” she pressed, embodying the spirit of a true competitor who sees every match as an opportunity to gain rather than lose.

Despite fencing’s relative obscurity in the Philippines, Maxine sees a bright future for the sport in her home country. She notes the increasing interest in and establishment of new clubs in Metro Manila. “I think the popularity and interest it has gained in the past few years are encouraging,” she said.

With the sport making waves, she advocates the need for policy changes concerning federation. “This is to ensure the improvement not just of the quantity and quality of fencing in the country, but also transparency and equity,” Maxine stated. “It is also imperative that athletes are safe in sports. Our parents entrust us in the hands of coaches and sports officials. So, there is a need to ensure that harassment, abuse (verbal, physical, or emotional), unfair treatment have no place in sports.” 

What she loves the most about competitive fencing is that it’s a combination of “agility, strength, grace, and strategy.” Akin to a game of mental chess in action, the sport provides her with an exhilarating experience out of the idea of making split-second decisions to outwitting an opponent.

The foilist further shared, “It doesn’t matter when you are shorter or younger. When you are mentally tough, you are confident, you are able to cancel out the stressors and the noise, and concentrate on outsmarting and outdoing your opponent.”

As Maxine steps off the fencing piste, this is the question on people’s mind: What lies ahead for this Philippine-born fencer whose strength has already lit a fire in many? Just when you think it’s the end, her story intertwined with her Olympiad saga is far from over.

Beyond the blade: New horizons

As her sail to Paris 2024 ended, Maxine looks forward to a well-deserved rest “just as all other Olympians would do.” The past years have been grueling, and she's eager to reconnect with home after three long years away.

But rest assured, this is just a brief interlude in her relentless pursuit of excellence. “The long-term goal is to finish a master’s degree, start my own successful and sustainable business venture, and of course, trying to qualify again in 2028 and getting a podium finish,” she revealed.

For Maxine, victory is not an endpoint but a milestone. Each win is celebrated by setting new goals, keeping her passion for fencing alive and thriving. This forward-looking mindset ensures that she remains driven and excited about the future.

Outside the fencing piste, Maxine harbors entrepreneurial aspirations: “I aspire to be a successful entrepreneur.” She envisions establishing a company that will grow into a global brand, a venture that aligns with her competitive spirit and mirrors an athletic mindset.

Maxine draws inspiration from athletes like Marial Guor whose incredible story—escaping war-torn South Sudan, finding refuge in the US, and becoming an Olympian—left a lasting impression on her; she finds Marial as the human figure who embodies the same principles she holds dear: integrity and justice.

Marial’s defiance against the South Sudan Olympic Committee resonated deeply with this foilist. When Marial questioned the committee's decisions and faced suspension, the International Olympic Committee offered him a universality place, recognizing the noble cause he championed. Despite struggling in his second Olympic appearance due to immense personal challenges, Marial’s unwavering integrity shone through, teaching her the value of standing up for what is right, even at great personal cost.

Having been confronted with a lot of challenges, Maxine came to realize that “there is a higher cause than just winning.” The principle of integrity is something she carries into her own athletic career, clinging to what her parents taught her: “There is no honor in earning something at the expense of another person.  So, in everything that you do, do it with integrity and passion.”

As a Filipina, Maxine is immensely proud of her heritage, particularly the adaptability and resilience of her people. “The ability to adapt in any situation. The ability to rise above any challenge,” she affirmed.

Maxine is a multi-talented individual; not only does she excel in fencing, but she also plays the violin, enjoys gaming, follows fashion trends, and graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Pennsylvania with an undergraduate degree in Applied Arts and Science.

All eyes are on Maxine Esteban, the fencing sensation, as she pens the next thrilling chapter of her tale. With her indomitable spirit and visionary goals, it’s crystal clear that anything she sets her sights on next will be conquered with the same grace, power, and tactical genius she wields on the fencing strip.

Text by Leigh Sofia Lazo

Photos courtesy of Maxine Esteban

Special thanks to Brand_It