U.S. gymnast Reese Esponda of Helena, Montana, an LSU commitment, poses with her silver medal on floor at the World Gymnastics Championships, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026 in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
LSU gymnastics recruit Reese Esponda didn’t let a late change to her floor routine keep her off the podium in the World Gymnastics Championships in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
The Helena, Montana, native, who turns 18 on Wednesday, took the silver medal in the floor exercise final Sunday behind U.S. teammate and Utah commitment Claire Pease, 13.866-13.566.
Another LSU recruit, Canada’s Lia Redick, finished fifth (13.300). Esponda and Redick were 1-2 on floor after the preliminary round.
Esponda medaled despite the International Gymnastics Federation ruling one of the elements of her floor routine would not be credited as it had earlier this season to fulfill a front tumbling requirement. Esponda had to rework her routine to include a less difficult tumbling pass.
It has been a remarkable season for Esponda, who also won a silver medal with the U.S. team at worlds. She won a total of nine medals at major competitions this year, including gold on floor at the U.S. Championships and the City of Jesolo Trophy meet in Italy, and gold in the all-around and on floor at the U.S. Classic.
Esponda is expected to ink with LSU when the NCAA signing period begins Nov. 11 and defer the start of her gymnastics career until after the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Rivera still medals
Fellow U.S. team member and LSU commitment Hezly Rivera withdrew from worlds with an ankle injury but still earned a team silver medal.
Rivera, 18, from Oradell, New Jersey, is also expected to sign with LSU in November and defer her collegiate career until after the 2028 Olympics. She won team gold with the U.S. squad at the 2024 Paris Games.
It was the second straight year Rivera had to scratch at worlds with an injury. She won the all-around titles in the 2025 U.S. Championships at the Smoothie King Center and again this year in Phoenix.
Florida’s Skye Blakely won the world all-around championship, the first active NCAA gymnast to capture that title.
Breaux documentary wins
Two members of the team behind an ESPN documentary on former LSU gymnastics coach D-D Breaux were honored recently during the 2026 WIN (Women’s Image Awards).
Lisa Lax and Nancy Stern Winters won the award for Outstanding Film or Show Written by a Woman for “The Fighting Tiger.”
The film was also up for three other WIN awards, including Outstanding Documentary Film.
“The Fighting Tiger” premiered Feb. 13 on the SEC Network and is available online at www.espn.com/watch/.
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