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.
Junior gymnastics career Esponda began gymnastics at age 3 at Gym 406 in Helena, Montana. In 2020, she moved to Roots Gymnastics and Dance in Missoula, Montana.
In 2021, Esponda competed at the Parkettes National Qualifier and Brestyan's National Qualifier.
In 2022, she 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.
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.
Senior gymnastics career 2024 In early 2024, Esponda moved to train at World Champions Centre in Spring, Texas. 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. She also competed at the Winter Cup, the US Selection Meet, the US Classic, and the US National Championships.
2025 In 2025, she competed at the Coastal Realm National Qualifier, winning 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. The same year, she announced her commitment to joining the LSU Tigers.
2026 In February, she competed at the Winter Cup, where she won the silver on the floor exercise and placed 4th overall. Esponda won the all-around at U.S. Classic with a 54.900 and finished first on floor exercise and third on balance beam.
In October she was selected to compete at the 2026 World Championships alongside Claire Pease, Charleigh Bullock, Skye Blakely and Hezly Rivera.
Competitive history +Competitive history of Reese Esponda at the junior levelYearEvent2022All-American National Qualifier 4 7 4 6 4Metroplex National Qualifier 15 9 13 13 16HOPEs Classic 9 9 6 15HOPEs Championships 5 72023 Vegas Cup National Qualifier 4 11 16 Winter Cup 11 13 13 17 4American Classic 4 12 7 5 U.S. Classic 19 11 28 15 16U.S. National Championships 6 9 5 5
+Competitive history of Reese Esponda at the senior levelYearEvent2024WOGA Classic 6 4 10 Winter Cup 7 5 21 14 4Baku World Cup 7U.S. Selection Meet 12 4 9 14 9U.S. Classic 19 28 31 6U.S. National Championships 28 15 34 32 82025Coastal Realm National Qualifier 7 4 U.S. Classic 5 6 21 15 U.S. National Championships 14 8 19 18 62026Winter Cup 4 6 9 City of Jesolo Trophy 5 7 U.S. Classic 9 U.S. National Championships 4 7 13 World Championships
Personal life Esponda was born in Helena, Montana, on October 28, 2008, to her parents Mark and Lindsay Esponda. She has three siblings named Kendall, Josie, and Drew. Esponda has stated that she was inspired to begin gymnastics after watching Gabby Douglas compete at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
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