Maxine Esteban

{{Infobox fencer

| name = Maxine Esteban

| image =

| caption =

| full_name = Maxine Isabel Tiu Esteban

| nickname =

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|11|26|mf=yes}}

| birth_place =

| death_date =

| death_place =

| residence =

| height =

| weight =

| website =

| country = Ivory Coast (since 2023)

| formercountry = Philippines (until 2023)

| training = Italy

| weapon = Foil

| hand = Right-handed

| natlteam =

| natlcoach =

| club =

| headcoach =

| assistcoach =

| formercoach =

| perscoach = Andrea Magro

| retired =

| disability_class =

| highest_rank = 27 (2022/23)

| current_rank = 27 (2022/23)

| fieranking =

| domesticranking =

| show-medals = yes

| medaltemplates =

{{MedalCountry|{{CIV}}}}

{{MedalCountry|the {{PHI}}}}

}}

Maxine Isabel Tiu Esteban (born November 26, 2000{{cite web |title=ESTEBAN MAXINE ISABEL |url=https://fie.org/athletes/35564/profile |publisher=Fédération Internationale d'Escrime |access-date=3 June 2023}}{{cite web |title=Fencer Maxine Esteban launches another fundraiser, this time for family e-learning kits |url=https://www.spin.ph/life/people/national-fencer-maxine-esteban-birthday-e-learning-fundraiser-a2442-20201125 |website=Sports Interactive Network Philippines |access-date=3 June 2023 |language=en |date=25 November 2020 |quote=She celebrates her 20th birthday on November 26.}}) is a Paris Olympic fencer. Born in the Philippines and representing Ivory Coast internationally since 2022, she is the 2024 African silver medalist and a 2023 African bronze medalist in women's foil.{{cite news |last1=Ochoa |first1=Francis T. J. |title=Finding a home in Ivory Coast, former top PH fencer begins Olympic quest on strong note |url=https://sports.inquirer.net/516245/finding-a-home-in-ivory-coast-former-top-ph-fencer-begins-olympic-quest-on-strong-note |access-date=27 June 2023 |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=27 June 2023 |language=en}}

Esteban represented the Philippines before transferring to the Ivory Coast as a naturalized citizen in 2022.{{cite news |last1=Navarro |first1=June |title=Top PH fencer Maxine Esteban transfers to Ivory Coast |url=https://sports.inquirer.net/512492/top-ph-fencer-esteban-transfers-to-ivory-coast |access-date=3 June 2023 |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=31 May 2023 |language=en}} During her tenure under the Philippine flag, she became a 2019 Junior World Cup bronze medalist, 2x Senior Satellite world cup medalist, 2017 Southeast Asian foil bronze medalist, as well as a 2019 and 2021 team foil silver medalist. She was also the country's highest-ranked fencer at 52nd in the world.

At present, Esteban is globally ranked 27th, per the Fédération Internationale d'Escrime.{{cite web |title= Maxine Isabel Estaban FIE Profile |url=https://fie.org/athletes/35564 |website=International Fencing Federation |access-date=24 August 2023}}

Education

Esteban studied at the Immaculate Conception Academy in Greenhills, San Juan, Metro Manila for high school, graduating in 2018.{{cite web |title=Maxine Esteban of class 2018 received Bronze medal in the Championnat de France M20, 2018 |url=https://www.icagh.edu.ph/2018/05/29/maxine-esteban-of-class-2018-received-bronze-medal-in-the-championnat-de-france-m20-2018/ |website=Immaculate Conception Academy |access-date=3 June 2023 |date=29 May 2018}} She pursued a course in management engineering at the Ateneo de Manila University.{{cite news |title=Maxine Esteban continues to give back while finishing nine online Ivy League courses |url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/maxine-esteban-adds-psc-allowance-to-fundraising-drive-reaches-500k/183908 |access-date=3 June 2023 |work=Tiebreaker Times |date=30 April 2020}} She later attended the University of Pennsylvania, where she graduated with an undergraduate degree in Applied Arts and Science major in Leadership and Communications, achieving summa cum laude honors in 2023.{{cite web |title=Fencer Maxine Esteban petmalu; gumradweyt Summa Cum Laude |url=https://newsko.com.ph/2023/05/25/fencer-maxine-esteban-petmalu-gumradweyt-summa-cum-laude/ |website=NewsKo |access-date=3 June 2023 |language=fil |date=25 May 2023}}

Career

=Early years=

As a child, Esteban initially pursued an interest in figure skating at the ice skating rink in SM Megamall, located in Mandaluyong, Metro Manila. However, due to the rink's closure and a lack of nearby alternatives, she dropped the sport and instead convinced her parents to allow her to enter a fencing club at Xavier School.{{cite web |last1=Tanco |first1=Jodie |title=Maxine Esteban: the Chinoy fencing prodigy who wants to do it all |url=https://www.chinoy.tv/maxine-esteban-the-chinoy-fencing-prodigy-who-wants-to-do-it-all/ |website=Chinoy TV |publisher=WCube Solutions Inc.. |access-date=3 June 2023 |date=17 June 2021}}

Esteban then began her fencing career at age 12 by competing in local competitions.{{cite journal |last1=Caniza |first1=Annika |title=Never Counted Out: Maxine Esteban Faces Any Challenge Head-On |journal=The Game |date=20 January 2023 |url=https://thegame-onemega.com/never-counted-out-maxine-esteban-faces-any-challenge-head-on/ |access-date=3 June 2023 |publisher=One Mega Group Inc.}}

=Collegiate=

Esteban competed for the Ateneo Blue Eagles fencing team at the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP). She was named Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player for Season 81 in 2018.{{cite news |title=Fencer Esteban remains upbeat |url=https://journal.com.ph/fencer-esteban-remains-upbeat/ |access-date=3 June 2023 |work=People's Tonight |publisher=Journal Online |date=16 April 2021}} After dominating her matches with three gold medals, Esteban led the Ateneo Women's Fencing team to win the UAAP Season 81 overall championships breaking the 11-year reign of the University of the East.{{cite news |last1=Valderrama |first1=Aeron Paul |title=New Phenom: Maxine Esteban, Ateneo end UE's 11-year reign |url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/new-phenom-maxine-esteban-ends-ues-reign-snaps-ateneos-11-year-drought/135718 |access-date=4 June 2023 |work=Tiebreaker Times |date=26 November 2018}} In the following year, she was conferred the Moro Lorenzo Award for Excellence in Sports, as well as the Lady Eagle of the Year Awardee by her own university.

Esteban last competed for the Ateneo in February 2020, where she defended her title in the women's foil individual event. The university ultimately placed third in the UAAP Season 82 fencing tournament.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all sporting events for Season 83 were cancelled.

=National team=

==Philippines==

Esteban competed in women's foil and represented the Philippines until 2022. She was ranked 16th at the peak of her junior career and 62nd in the senior category, the highest ever for a Filipino fencer.

At the 2018 FIE Junior World Cup in Guatemala City, she won a bronze medal.{{cite web |title=Esteban, wagi ng bronze sa World Cup |trans-title=Esteban, won a bronze in World Cup|url=https://balita.net.ph/2018/11/22/esteban-wagi-ng-bronze-sa-world-cup/ |website=Balita |access-date=3 June 2023 |language=fil |date=21 November 2018}}

Esteban also competed at the Southeast Asian Games, having won a bronze medal in the 2017 edition for the Philippines in foil.{{cite news |last1=Bancod |first1=Rey |title=We don't make promises in fencing – Gomez |url=https://tempo.com.ph/2019/08/13/we-dont-make-promises-in-fencing-gomez/ |access-date=4 June 2023 |work=Tempo |date=13 August 2019}} She also clinched a bronze and silver in the team foil event with teammates in the 2019 and 2021 editions respectively.{{cite news |last1=Valderrama |first1=Aeron Paul |title=SEA Games: Catantan leads women's foil team to silver |url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/sea-games-catantan-leads-womens-foil-team-to-silver/240388 |access-date=3 June 2023 |work=Tiebreaker Times |date=17 May 2022}}

She aspires to qualify for the Olympics. Her family tapped the service of Italian coach Andrea Magro in 2020 to aid her training.{{cite news |last1=Dioquino |first1=Delfin |title=Guided by esteemed coach, fencer Maxine Esteban keen on fulfilling Olympic dream |url=https://www.rappler.com/sports/maxine-esteban-keen-on-fulfilling-olympic-dream/ |access-date=3 June 2023 |work=Rappler |date=3 December 2022}}

Esteban became the first Filipino to win a medal in a FIE satellite event when she finished as a bronze medalist at the 2021 FIE Tournoi Satellite in Copenhagen, Denmark.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}} She also won the silver medal in the FIE satellite event in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.{{cite web |last1=Reyes |first1=Kate |title=Maxine Esteban bags silver in FIE senior satellite tilt in Uzbekistan |url=https://www.spin.ph/life/guide/maxine-esteban-becomes-the-first-filipina-to-clinch-a-medal-in-fie-senior-satellite-competition-a2442-20210927 |website=Sports Interactive Network Philippines |access-date=3 June 2023 |language=en |date=27 September 2021}}

She took part in the 2022 World Seniors Cup in Serbia where she finished 38th in foil.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}} She also took part in the World Seniors Cup in Tauberbiscofsheim Germany where she finished 44th in foil.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}} At the Asian Fencing Championship, she finished 11th in foil, the highest among the all Philippine delegation competitors.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}}

===Injury and federation issues===

Esteban competed at the 2022 World Fencing Championships in July but suffered an ACL and PCL injury. Although she was reported to have recovered by the beginning of 2023,{{cite news |title=Maxine Esteban back on the road to chase Olympic dream after ACL injury |url=https://www.spin.ph/fencing/maxine-esteban-eyes-2024-paris-olympics-after-acl-injury-a1374-20230108 |access-date=3 June 2023 |work=Sports Interactive Network Philippines |date=8 January 2023 |language=en}} the injury rendered her unable to participate in qualifiers for both international and national events, costing her a place in the Philippine national team.{{cite news |title=Esteban says PFA move was ‘disrespectful’ |url=https://www.philstar.com/sports/2023/11/29/2314932/esteban-says-pfa-move-was-disrespectful |access-date=29 November 2023 |work=The Philippine Star |date=29 November 2023}} This led to Esteban switching sporting nationality for reasons that would be publicly disclosed after the move was complete; she later revealed her frustrations with her removal from the national team despite having been issued an approved written excuse letter that permitted her to skip training and local qualifiers while recovering from surgery.{{cite news |last1=Payo |first1=Jasmine |title=Maxine Esteban saddened Sam Catantan dragged into PH fencing issue |url=https://www.rappler.com/sports/maxine-esteban-saddened-sam-catantan-dragged-philippine-fencing-issue/ |access-date=6 April 2024 |work=Rappler |date=6 April 2024}} Because she was removed from the national team without notice, on the pretext of not participating in the qualifiers, Esteban subsequently alleged double standards with other Filipino fencers who have skipped the qualifiers and still retained their respective spots.{{cite news |last1=Demigillo |first1=Kiko |title='Sobra akong nabastos': Maxine Esteban explains final straw in decision to transfer to Ivory Coast |url=https://www.onesports.ph/more-sports/article/17302/sobra-akong-nabastos-maxine-esteban-explains-final-straw-in-decision-to-transfer-to-ivory-coast |access-date=29 November 2023 |work=One Sports |date=25 November 2023 |language=en}}

In April 2024, the Philippine Fencing Association released a statement, reasoning that it was obliged to send only Samantha Catantan to the qualifiers out of merit (results since 2017) and noted the waiver it had given to Esteban for her sporting nationality change.{{cite news |last1=Matel |first1=Philip |title=Maxine Esteban issues ‘adversely affected’ national team, says PH fencing |url=https://www.rappler.com/sports/philippine-fencing-association-statement-maxine-esteban-switched-nationalities/ |access-date=4 April 2024 |work=Rappler |date=4 April 2024 |language=en}} In response, Esteban insisted that she was unjustly removed from the national team but expressed sadness that her former teammate's name was dragged into the controversy.

==Côte d'Ivoire==

Esteban was given Ivorian citizenship through naturalization. In May 2023, she switched her sporting nationality to represent Ivory Coast internationally. The move was approved by the Philippine Fencing Association, which waived the three-year waiting period requirement, allowing her to compete for the African nation immediately. Her move was supported by the Philippine Olympic Committee.{{cite news |last1=Micaller |first1=Bea |title=POC chief supports fencer Maxine Esteban's decision to switch nationalities, represent Ivory Coast |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/sports/othersports/871762/poc-chief-supports-fencer-maxine-esteban-s-decision-to-switch-nationalities-represent-ivory-coast/story/ |access-date=3 June 2023 |work=GMA News |date=1 June 2023 |language=en}}

Esteban's first podium finish for Ivory Coast was at the 2023 African Fencing Championships in Cairo, Egypt, where she clinched a bronze medal in foil. After collecting enough points from Olympic qualifier competitions, she qualified for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris for her new country.{{cite news |title=Fencing's Esteban now an Ivorian Olympian |url=https://www.philstar.com/sports/2024/03/17/2341227/fencings-esteban-now-ivorian-olympian |access-date=17 March 2024 |work=The Philippine Star |date=17 March 2024}}

In the lead-up to the Olympics, Estaban bagged a silver medal in the 2024 African Championships.{{cite news |last1=Garcia |first1=John Mark |title=Maxine Esteban wins silver in African Fencing Championships |url=https://www.spin.ph/fencing/maxine-esteban-wins-silver-in-african-fencing-championships-a5172-20240607 |access-date=7 June 2024 |work=Sports Interactive Network Philippines |date=7 June 2024 |language=en}}

Esteban's Olympic bid would end early when Pauline Ranvier won over her in the Round of 32.{{cite news |last1=Caacbay |first1=Kennedy |title=Maxine Esteban on quick Paris exit: 'I could've made Philippines, Côte d'Ivoire proud' |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/7/28/esteban-on-quick-paris-exit-i-could-ve-made-philippines-cote-divoire-proud-2014 |access-date=29 July 2024 |work=ABS-CBN News |date=28 July 2024}}

Personal life

Esteban is a Filipino of Chinese descent. She also plays the violin and paints as hobbies outside of fencing.

Prior to her sporting nationality change, she had already been holding clinics for fencers in Cote d’Ivoire, and her family has long-standing ties with the country.{{cite news |last1=Payo |first1=Jasmine |title=Why the nationality switch? Maxine Esteban calls out ‘unfair’ PH fencing |url=https://www.rappler.com/sports/maxine-esteban-calls-out-unfair-philippine-fencing-association-reason-nationality-switch/ |access-date=29 November 2023 |work=Rappler |date=28 November 2023}} Her sister Mia is also an athlete who focuses on pickleball.{{cite news |title=Mia Esteban finds niche in pickleball as she steps out of sister's shadow |url=https://www.spin.ph/life/guide/mia-esteban-starts-to-make-name-for-herself-in-pickleball-a1373-20240605 |access-date=8 June 2024 |work=Sports Interactive Network Philippines |date=6 June 2024 |language=en}}

Medal record

=National team=

==For the Philippines==

===FIE Tournoi Satellite===

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

!Year

! style="width:17em" |Location

! style="width:12em" |Event

!Position

2021-9-26

| align="left" |{{flagicon|UZB}} Tashkent, Uzbekistan

|Individual Women's Foil

| bgcolor="silver" |2nd

===FIE Junior World Cup===

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

!Year

! style="width:17em" |Location

! style="width:12em" |Event

!Position

2018

| align="left" |{{flagicon|GUA}} Guatemala City, Guatemala

|Individual Women's Foil

| bgcolor="#CC9966" |3rd

===Southeast Asian Games===

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

!Year

! style="width:17em" |Location

! style="width:12em" |Event

!Position

2017

| align="left" |{{flagicon|MAS}} Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

|Individual Women's Foil

| bgcolor="#CC9966" |3rd

2019

| align="left" |{{flagicon|PHI}} Pasay, Philippines

|Team Women's Foil

| bgcolor="silver" |2nd

2021

| align="left" |{{flagicon|VIE}} Hanoi, Vietnam

|Team Women's Foil

| bgcolor="silver" |2nd

==For Ivory Coast==

===African Fencing Championship===

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

!Year

! style="width:17em" |Location

! style="width:12em" |Event

!Position

2023

| align="left" |{{flagicon|EGY}} Cairo, Egypt

|Individual Women's Foil

| bgcolor="#CC9966" |3rd

2024

| align="left" |{{flagicon|MAR}} Casablanca, Morocco

|Individual Women's Foil

| bgcolor="silver" |2nd

=College=

==UAAP Championship==

All results have been for the Ateneo Blue Eagles.

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

!Year

!Season

!Event

!Position

rowspan=3 |2018–19

| rowspan="3" align="left" |Season 81

| Individual Women's Foil

| bgcolor="gold" |1st{{cite news |title=UAAP: Ateneo snags women's fencing crown; UE defends men's title |url=https://www.rappler.com/sports/uaap/217587-ateneo-wins-women-fencing-ue-defends-men-title/ |access-date=4 June 2023 |work=Rappler |date=26 November 2018}}

Individual Women's Sabre

| bgcolor="gold" |1st

Team Women's Foil

| bgcolor="gold" |1st

rowspan=3 |2019–20

| rowspan="3" align="left" |Season 82

| Individual Women's Foil

| bgcolor="gold" |1st{{cite news |title=Maxine Esteban shines as Ateneo opens UAAP Fencing back-to-back bid |url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/maxine-esteban-shines-ateneo-opens-uaap-fencing-back-back-bid/178495 |access-date=4 June 2023 |work=Tiebreaker Times |date=11 February 2020}}