Top Filipino fencer Maxine Esteban has decided to switch nationalities to Ivory Coast in her quest to earn a berth to the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The Philippine Fencing Association has approved the transfer and has requested the International Fencing Federation (FIE) to waive the three-year residency rule so that the 22-year-old University of Pennsylvania graduate can start competing for the West African nation.

Maxine Esteban (Photo from International Fencing Federation)

“We support her change of nationality representation to Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) where she is also a naturalized citizen. As we believe in and support the Olympic spirit that sports know no nationalities, we are happy for Maxine for her decision, and as such we are requesting for the FIE to waive the 3-year waiting period of her representation in Cote d’Ivoire so that she can continue, without interruption all training in all FIE competitions, for her personal improvement and goal achievement,” PFA President Richard Gomez wrote in a letter to FIE Chief Executive Officer Nathalie Rodriguez.

In response, the FIE approved the request. Esteban’s profile in the FIE website can now be seen as a player representing Ivory Coast.

She is also seeking the same clearance from the Philippine Olympic Committee.

“My immediate transfer will allow me to continue with my training and competitions without interruption, as well as share my skill and talent with a smaller fencing community in Cote d’Ivoire where I am now immersed,” Esteban wrote to POC President Bambol Tolentino.

Ranked No. 84 in the world, Esteban is currently training in Tbilisi, George where she is scheduled to compete in the Coupe Du Monde on Friday, June 1, and the Coupe Du Monde Par Equipes on Sunday, June 4.

Fencers have already started to chase for ranking points needed to earn berths for the Olympics starting April 3 until April 1 next year. Zonal qualifying tournaments are also slated in April next year.

Esteban is the latest Filipino to switch nationalities following golfer Yuka Saso to Japan last year and chess player Wesley So in 2014.

Walter Torres, who is now Commissioner of the Philippine Sports Commission, was the last Filipino to qualify for the Olympics after donning the national colors in the 1992 Barcelona edition.