After ACL injury, Esteban targets Paris Olympics berth

MANILA, Philippines (Updated 2:53 p.m.) — A season-ending injury isn't dampening Maxine Esteban's drive for the 2024 Paris Olympics as the fencer keeps herself zeroed in on the Summer Games.

After tearing her ACL during the 2022 World Fencing Championships in Cairo last July, Esteban has been focused on returning quickly to health to resume her campaign.

The former Ateneo standout is keeping her optimism despite the injury derailing her 2022 season.

"Unfortunately nga during the world championships, I tore my ACL and the past two months, I had spent my time going in and out of hospitals, rehab centers, and gyms here in Manila and I was supposed to be training in Italy already and competing all around Europe at this time," said Esteban during her interview earlier this week on PlayitrightTV.

Adding to her disappointment was that momentum was on her side before the injury had forced her to the sidelines.

"During the world championship, I was really looking forward to a great performance and furthering my world ranking because I did really well nga in the previous world cups where I was able to get into the main tableu of 64," she said.

Still, Esteban continues to dream of becoming the first Filipino fencer in the Summer Games since 1992 when Walter Torres competed for the Nationals.

"Well it started the moment I held my blade because fencing has always been my passion and every since I first held my blade, I already told myself na I want to go to the Olympics," she said.

The foil fencer will look to return to competition early next year in Europe. Esteban has been attempting to accelerate her recovery and has been training every day already a month removed from surgery.