For some time now, fencing has felt like a gated sport—the barrier to entry too high for those fascinated by the discipline.

For at least an August weekend, that perception was crushed.

“This isn’t just about fencing—it’s about opening doors,” Enrique Lucero of the Rebisco Extreme brand team, said over the weekend during the company’s two-day “Be The Next Fencing Champ” clinic that ended last Sunday.

The free community camp was volunteer-run: Coaches, staff, labor, and time. At the helm of the session was Filipino-Ivorian Olympian Maxine Esteban whose homecoming was supposed to be a chance to rest and recover from injuries.

Instead, there she was, lowering the drawbridge for a sport that can sometimes feel too exclusive, tucked inside select schools or clubs, with specialized equipment and etiquette that intimidate newcomers.

“Fencing changed my life, and I want these kids to see that it can change theirs too,” she said. Later, on Facebook, she wrote: “For the lessons of life, there is no better teacher than the look in the eyes of a child. This ‘free for all’ fencing camp was [about] more than just fencing; it was about dreams taking flight, barriers breaking, and hearts connecting. None of this would have been possible without the unwavering support of Rebisco Extreme, whose belief in grassroots sports gave many young dreamers a chance to shine.”

“We believe every child deserves a chance to fall in love with sports, regardless of background,” Lucero said.

Esteban also paid tribute to the volunteers who made it happen: Italy’s Carlotta Ferrari and Isaia Napolitano—World Cup medalists and European champions—stood shoulder to shoulder with US-based NCAA standout Czarina Alfonso, and local fencers and coaches assembled by UP Diliman head coach Allan Dator.

“To the incredible volunteers, coaches, mentors, and friends who gave their time, skill, and heart without asking for anything in return, you are the true champions. Because of you, these kids now know that dreams can be better achieved together,” Esteban wrote.

The camp took its cue from the International Fencing Federation’s “Fencing for All” vision. —INQUIRER SPORTS STAFF