From rising through the fencing ranks together to a possible Olympics face-off, Sam Catantan and Maxine Esteban’s journeys to Paris are the same, but different.
Once teammates in the Philippine national team, Sam Catantan and Maxine Esteban are set for a possible collision course in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
But regardless of the possibility of facing a former teammate as a new rival, Catantan expressed her excitement upon seeing another Filipina fencer in the upcoming Summer Games, even as Esteben will now represent Ivory Coast as a naturalized citizen in Paris.
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“I’m more looking forward to be there with her kasi po hindi lang isang Filipina ang nandun for the fence po kasi matagal ko na po na teammate si Maxine [Esteban],” said the 22-year-old Cantantan at latest PSA Forum Monday, organized by the Philippine Sportswriters Association.
“She is a hard worker po, alam ko na isa rin po siya sa mga deserving to be there. I’m just really looking forward to be there with her.”
Catantan ruled the womens' foil in 2024 Asia-Oceania Zonal Olympic Qualifier last April, becoming the first Filipino fencer since Walter Torre in 1992 to clinch an Olympics berth. The win put the former UE standout in the same category as Esteban, who earlier clinched the lone African singles spot for Paris.
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“It’s an external factor that we don’t have any control of,” Catantan said.
Amat Canlas, Catantan’s coach and Esteban’s former mentor, shared that the two learned and grew from the sport together.
“Talagang mag-teammate sila, bata pa lang sa age group magkasama sila hanggang sa national team. Sabay pumasok eh, talagang teammate yan mag-best friend talaga eh. Talagang nag-iba lang sila ng landas kasi parehas nila pangarap.”
However, for Canlas, he rather sees his prized fighter fight someone else once the Olympics roll around. Neverthless, they are prepared for whatever challenge that will lie ahead.
“Mas gusto namin kung ibang country na lang ang makalaban. Matagal na sila mag-teammate ni Maxine. But of course, kung ‘yun ang nasa bracket then paghahandaan namin,” he said.
As if fate would truly have it, both Catantan and Esteban suffered ACL injuries before realizing their respective Olympic dreams, albeit for different countries.
The shared adversity aside, Canlas emphasized that if ever both fencers face each other in Paris, it will be a win-win situation for all.
“Masaya ako kasi totoo naman nag-dream kami lahat 'yan. Parehas sila, tatlo kami nangarap sa Olympics so happy ako parehas sila nakuha. So anuman, what happens sa Paris, magkatapat man sila o hindi, winner na kami tatlo,”
Catantan will spend the next couple of weeks training with the national men's fencing team before going to Italy for a camp scheduled June 12 to 29. She will then proceed to France to wrap up final Olympic preparations before checking in at the Athletes Village on July 25.
“Itatapat ko na siya sa magagaling na lalaki natin hanggang umalis kami for Italy. Ibang training program naman ‘yun,” said Canlas on Catantan's preps.
In Venice, the 2023 SEA Games silver medalist will then get rare chance to train with members of the Italian team.
“We were invited, and ang maganda is that sagot ng Penn State lahat. His Italian coach at Penn State will be with Sam. Then pagdating niya sa France, ako na ang kasama niya,” said Canlas.