Trained as an athlete at a young age, this female fencer didn’t let anybody or anything stop her from achieving her ultimate dream. She may not have represented the Philippines in the Paris Olympics after her path was redirected by fate and circumstance, but she remains a Filipino at heart — one who carries big dreams for herself and the land of her birth.
By MAAN D’ASIS PAMARAN
By all accounts, Maxine Tiu Esteban could have chosen to live a charmed life akin to that of a princess. Beautiful and born to privilege, paths would have opened easily for this smart young lady. Yet she chose to ride into battle and face seemingly insurmountable obstacles so that she may become an Olympic athlete.
While sitting on the PeopleAsia makeup chair, Maxine seems to be in her element, discussing skincare and fashion before slipping into her glittery heels for the photo shoot. With the same confidence in parrying and wielding her foil, she later reveals to us the road to becoming the top 27th female fencer in the world may not have been an easy one, but it was all worth it.
Powering through
Behind the scenes, Maxine has put in tremendous effort to be where she is right now. “When we were younger, our parents immersed us in different sports,” she starts off. “I used to do competitive figure skating when I was barely eight years old. Then, the ice-skating rink at SM Megamall closed, and the one at SM Mall of Asia was too far away from my house. I had to look for another sport. I dabbled into swimming, badminton, and taekwondo, but it wasn’t until I saw the movie Parent Trap that I was introduced to fencing.”
Maxine lost no time asking her parents to sign her up for fencing lessons. Competitive figure skating’s loss eventually became fencing’s gain. In due time, Maxine began to excel in her new sport.
At the age of 14, she began to develop her trademark girl power and winning mindset. “My parents enrolled me in fencing lessons in an exclusive boy’s school near our house, and there were only two girls in the club,” she shares. “Sometimes, I would be the only girl there. It was very memorable for me because when I started winning, the boys suddenly became more aggressive when they fenced with me. Thus, I ended up with lots of bruises. I didn’t really take it negatively, as it was part of the sport. In truth, I was a bit flattered at the treatment I got and took it as a challenge.”
Soon enough, Maxine came into her own and was labeled a fencing prodigy and started representing the country. It was then that her Filipino pride came to the fore.
“I was in a World Cup and the Philippine flag was nowhere in sight. It broke my heart because whenever I competed then, I made it a point to look for our flag. It strengthened my resolve to win a medal. In that competition, I was able to win a historic World Cup bronze medal for our country. During the awarding ceremony, the Philippine flag was raised and I was very happy.”
Heartbreak and hope
Preparing for the Olympics brought Maxine and the Philippines glory. She became bronze medalist at the 2018 Junior World Cup, a medalist at the 2019 and 2021 Senior Satellite World Cup — the only Filipino to have reportedly achieved such a feat. Maxine was also a medalist at the 2017, 2019, and 20121 SEA Games.
Maxine, like most athletes, isn’t immune to injuries She had suffered two major hand injuries and a full ACL tear in the course of her career, one of which, she said, cost her place in the Philippine Olympic team.
While recovering from an injury she sustained while representing the Philippines at the World Championship in 2022, Maxine received heartbreaking news. “I learned that I was removed from the national team without notice, four months before the 2024 Olympic qualifiers,” she tells PeopleAsia.
Without a definite slot to compete at the then-upcoming Asian Fencing Championships — the most important Olympic qualifier — her chances of qualifying would have ended completely. Maxine ended up representing the Ivory Coast, where she was warmly welcomed into its fold. “I was Top 52 at the Senior World Rankings at that time, and I felt that qualifying in Paris Olympics was very reachable and realistic,” says Maxine.
But why Ivory Coast? “My father has diplomatic and business relations with Cote d’Ivoire. I had already conducted fencing clinics there before, and they had intimated their full support for me, too,” she says.
Maxine describes Ivorians as very warm, friendly, with a very good sense of humor like Filipinos. “When I arrived at the airport, the team was waiting for me with flowers. They took turns showing me around and introducing to me their different food.”
But Maxine didn’t travel that far to simply coast on past achievements. To prepare for her Olympic journey, she trained in Italy for two years, and in Germany for a year. “I migrated to Italy in 2021 to prepare for Paris 2024.”
“Until now it is a very sensitive topic, but then I am happy I was blessed to get a second chance at fulfilling my dreams. I entrusted all to God and followed His lead. I figured He wanted me to inspire the youth, not just of the Philippines, but also far beyond our shores.”
Strength and support
She describes her arrival at the 2024 Paris Olympics as surreal. “Imagine, I was there among the best athletes in the world,” she gushes. “If anything, it inspired me to do better. The significance of the Olympic stage is not just the event, it’s the unwavering passion of all the athletes there. And this collective passion and energy serve as an inspiration to others as well.”
After finishing 23rd in Paris, Maxine says that her Olympic debut ignited interest for young Filipinos and Ivorians alike to try fencing.
She also acknowledges the invaluable support of her family for making her Olympic dreams come true. “They were the ones who supported me financially when I first started, and they supported me physically, mentally, and emotionally as well,” says Maxine. “That support was very crucial when I was removed from the national team because I felt so much stress and anxiety. My sister even flew to Germany to stay with me for a year. At that time, I had to compete in about 15 Olympic qualifiers. Her support meant a lot to me. My whole family flew to Paris for the Olympics. They’re my number one supporters. With them behind me, I know I will be alright no matter what!”
Maxine also talks about the mental load athletes like her have had to bear. “People only see our achievements and failures. They do not see the hard work we put into our chosen sport and the battle scars we are made to wear in the process. More than the physical injuries, I had to endure the mental, emotional and psychological stress. I hope that sports leaders can help ease, rather than add to this because many are amiss in addressing this important issue. I really hope this will be taken care of.”
She further adds “Being an Olympian comes with greater responsibilities. With the power to inspire the youth and influence sports leaders, I commit to be relevant in my mother land by supporting Philippine sports and advocating the passing of more laws that will protect our national athletes. This is my legacy to the Philippines.”
Beyond sports
Maxine also made sure that she excelled academically. She graduated with a degree in Management Engineering at the Ateneo de Manila University and graduated summa cum laude at the University of Pennsylvania, where she finished an Applied Arts and Science course in Leadership and Communications.
She spends most of her free time playing online games with her family, as well as attending to her own business as an exclusive distributor of New Zealand Honey Company in the Philippines. She’s also helping out in the family business, where she takes care of online marketing tools for their shopping apps. “It is my way of giving back to my parents for everything they have done for me,” she says with a smile.
But she hasn’t stopped dreaming big as far as fencing is concerned. Even before the dust had settled on Paris, Maxine was already setting her sights on the 2028 LA Olympics.
Her advice to future Olympians: “Everything starts with a dream, a goal. Pursue that goal with a passionate and fiery heart. There is no dream that is too big nor too far to reach if you pour your heart into it. Remember that you’re the author of your story. So, never let anyone write it for you or chart your destiny. No matter what everyone tells you, work hard and do everything with passion, perseverance and grit.”
Photography by MARK CHESTER ANG
Art direction by DEXTER FRANCIS DE VERA
Styling by MIKE DE GUZMAN and GEO PALMIANO (MGP)
Hair and makeup by LARS CABANACAN
