Reese Esponda
| Reese Esponda | |
|---|---|
Reese Esponda competing on the floor exercise at the 2024 US Classic | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | October 28, 2008 Helena, Montana, US |
| Gymnastics career | |
| Discipline | Women's artistic gymnastics |
| Country represented | United States |
| College team | LSU Tigers (2027–2030) |
| Gym | World Champions Centre |
| Head coach(es) | Laurent Landi |
| Assistant coach(es) | Cecile Canqueteau-Landi |
Reese Esponda (born October 28, 2008) is an American artistic gymnast. She is currently a member of the United States women's national gymnastics team for 2026, having also previously been named to the team in 2023.[1]
Junior gymnastics career
Esponda began gymnastics at age 3 at Gym 406 in Helena, Montana.[2] In 2020, she moved to Roots Gymnastics and Dance in Missoula, Montana.[2]
In 2021, Esponda competed at the Parkettes National Qualifier and Brestyan's National Qualifier.[3]
In 2022, Esponda competed at the Hopes Classic where she won the bronze on vault. A few weeks later, she competed in the Hopes Championships where she won gold on vault and the balance beam and won the silver in the all-around.[3]
In 2023, she competed at the Vegas Cup National Qualifier where she won bronze on vault and gold on the floor exercise. She won the bronze on balance beam, floor exercise, and in the all-around at the WOGA Classic. She also won gold on the floor exercise at the American Classic and the US National Championships. She also competed at the US Classic and the Winter Cup.[3]
Senior gymnastics career
In early 2024, Reese Esponda moved to train at World Champions Centre, in Spring, Texas.[4][5] She competed at the Winter Cup and the WOGA Classic, winning gold on vault in the latter. She competed at her first international assignment at the Baku World Cup where she only competed on the floor exercise, qualifying in 2nd, but ultimately placing 7th.[6] She also competed at the Winter Cup, the US Selection Meet, the US Classic, and the US National Championships.
In 2025, she competed at the Coastal Realm National Qualifier, wining silver on vault, gold on the floor exercise, and silver in the all-around. She also won gold on the floor exercise at US Classic. She competed at the US National Championships where she placed 16th overall.[3] The same year, she announced her commitment to joining the LSU Tigers.
In 2026, Esponda competed at the Winter Cup, where she won the silver on the floor exercise and placed 4th overall.[7]
Competitive history
| Year | Event | Team | AA | VT | UB | BB | FX |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | All-American National Qualifier | 4 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 4 | |
| Metroplex National Qualifier | 15 | 9 | 13 | 13 | 16 | ||
| HOPEs Classic | 9 | 9 | 6 | 15 | |||
| HOPEs Championships | 5 | 7 | |||||
| 2023 | Vegas Cup National Qualifier | 4 | 11 | 16 | |||
| WOGA Classic | 4 | 6 | |||||
| Winter Cup | 11 | 13 | 13 | 17 | 4 | ||
| American Classic | 4 | 12 | 7 | 5 | |||
| U.S. Classic | 19 | 11 | 28 | 15 | 16 | ||
| U.S. National Championships | 3 | 9 | 5 | 5 |
| Year | Event | Team | AA | VT | UB | BB | FX |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | WOGA Classic | 6 | 4 | 10 | |||
| Winter Cup | 7 | 5 | 21 | 14 | 4 | ||
| Baku World Cup | 7 | ||||||
| U.S. Selection Meet | 12 | 4 | 9 | 14 | 9 | ||
| U.S. Classic | 19 | 28 | 31 | 6 | |||
| U.S. National Championships | 28 | 15 | 34 | 32 | 8 | ||
| 2025 | Coastal Realm National Qualifier | 7 | 4 | ||||
| U.S. Classic | 5 | 6 | 21 | 15 | |||
| U.S. National Championships | 14 | 8 | 19 | 18 | 6 | ||
| 2026 | Winter Cup | 4 | 6 | 9 |
Personal life
Esponda was born in Helena, Montana, on October 28, 2008, to her parents Mark and Lindsay Esponda.[8] She has three siblings named Kendall, Josie, and Drew.[8] Esponda has stated that she was inspired to begin gymnastics after watching Gabby Douglas compete at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.[2]
References
- ^ "Women's Senior National Teams • USA Gymnastics". USA Gymnastics. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
- ^ a b c Hansen, Kyle (September 3, 2024). "Learning alongside world's best has Montana gymnast Reese Esponda ready to fly". MontanaSports.com (MTSPX). Retrieved February 24, 2026.
- ^ a b c d "Reese Esponda". The Gymternet. March 22, 2024. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
- ^ "The Round-off Roundup: Is the US moving towards a de facto centralized system?". The Tufts Daily. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
- ^ Shakeel, Maleehah (April 9, 2024). "Practicing Next to Simone Biles, Gymnastics World Lauds Birth of New 15-Year-Old Champion: "Got the Job Done"". EssentiallySports. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
- ^ "2024 Baku World Cup Results". The Gymternet. March 10, 2024. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
- ^ Lauren (February 23, 2026). "2026 Winter Cup Results". The Gymternet. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
- ^ a b "USA Gymnastics | Athletes". members.usagym.org. Retrieved February 24, 2026.