Maxine Esteban is upbeat of her campaign to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics – even if it means forging a different path and representing Ivory Coast.

The country’s former top fencer, who recently switched nationalities due to “a series of unfortunate events very little of which I had no control over”, said she is banking on her strong start in the past few weeks after hitting two milestones.

Maxine Esteban, who is now representing Ivory Coast, is off to a good start in her Olympic qualification campaign. (File Photo/Maxine Esteban's Facebook)

First of which was winning the bronze medal in the individual women’s foil during the African Championships in Cairo, Egypt – a tournament that is part of a series of Olympic qualifiers.

Second was her new career-high ranking of No. 46.

“I take so much pride in both milestones because these results have helped me regain most of my confidence after nearly a year of anxiety and stress that began when I injured my ACL also here in Cairo while representing the Philippines in the World Championships last year,” Esteban said in a statement released to the media.

“Now, I can say that I am in the right physical and mental space to compete for an Olympic appearance in Paris 2024,” the eight-time national champion added.

Although Esteban didn’t fully divulge the reason behind her decision to switch nationalities, the four-time Southeast Asian Games medalist remained grateful to Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Bambol Tolentino, who requested the International Olympic Committee to waive the three-year residency so that she could compete for Ivory Coast this year.

“Mr. Tolentino’s request for that waiver shows his desire to give every Filipino an opportunity to accomplish their sporting dreams, no matter from what shores those dreams are fulfilled,” Esteban said.

“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,” she added.

Esteban said the road to qualifying for the Olympics “is still long and filled with uncertainties and challenges, but at least now, there is a road.”

She is also not turning her back to where she came from, stressing that in her heart, “I will always carry two inspirations: The land of my birth and the country I now call home.”