Helena native Reese Esponda won a silver medal in the women’s floor exercise at the 2026 Artistic World Championships in Rotterdam, Netherlands, on October 25, 2026, kxlh.com reported, securing her second silver of the event just days after helping the U.S. team qualify for the 2028 Olympic Games.
Esponda's Podium Finishes Highlight International Success
- Esponda’s podium finishes at the Artistic World Championships highlight her success on the international stage.
Rotterdam Podium and Team USA Success
Esponda finished the floor exercise final with a 13.566 score, placing behind teammate Claire Pease, who captured the gold with a 13.866. The performance capped a stellar debut on the world stage for the 17-year-old, who previously claimed silver in the team competition alongside Pease, Skye Blakely, Charleigh Bullock, and Dulcy Caylor. The American squad tallied an overall 165.531, finishing narrowly behind China’s gold-medal-winning 165.764, while Japan took third with 164.063.
The top three team finishes in Rotterdam officially secured quota spots for the United States at the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 2028. Overall, the U.S. women concluded the championships with seven total medals. Blakely led the delegation by capturing the individual all-around gold alongside bronze medals on both the vault and uneven bars, while Pease added a silver on the vault to her floor gold.
| Gymnast | Event / Category | Medal | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Claire Pease | Floor Exercise | Gold | 13.866 |
| Reese Esponda | Floor Exercise | Silver | 13.566 |
| Team USA | Team Competition | Silver | 165.531 |
| Skye Blakely | Individual All-Around | Gold | – |
A Rapid Rise Through the Ranks
Currently a high school senior in Shenandoah, Texas, Esponda has already committed to compete collegiately at LSU. Her journey to the senior national team has progressed rapidly since she made the U.S. Junior National Team in 2023. Earlier this year, she finished second on the floor exercise at the Winter Cup in February and helped Team USA secure the Jesolo Trophy in March.
She followed those performances by claiming the individual all-around title at the U.S. Classic in July, before winning the floor exercise and placing fourth in the all-around at the Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships in August. Those domestic results earned her a spot on the 2026-27 Senior National Team, setting the foundation for her successful international debut in the Netherlands.
