Frida Esparza

Last updated
Frida Esparza
Frida Esparza in 2019.jpg
Esparza in 2019
Personal information
Born (2001-01-17) January 17, 2001 (age 24)
Concord, California, U.S.
Hometown Pittsburg, California, U.S.
Residence Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Height5 ft 4 in (163 cm) [1]
Gymnastics career
Discipline Women's artistic gymnastics
Country representedFlag of Mexico.svg  Mexico
Years on national team2018–20 (MEX)
College team UCLA Bruins
ClubHead Over Heels
Head coach(es) Chris Waller
Former coach(es)Katreece Stone
Medal record
Women's artistic gymnastics
Representing Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico
Event1st2nd3rd
World Challenge Cup 100
Pan American Championships
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2018 Lima Team

Frida Esparza (born 17 January 2001) [2] is a Mexican-American artistic gymnast who represented Mexico at the 2018 and 2019 World Championships. Esparza was part of the Mexican team that won the bronze medal at the 2018 Pan American Championships. She is currently a member of the UCLA Bruins women's gymnastics team.

Contents

Personal life

Esparza was born in Concord, California to Mexican parents. [3] Her parents enrolled her in gymnastics when she was two years old. [4]

Esparza holds dual citizenship for Mexico and the United States. [5] She competed at the 2016 and 2017 U.S. Championships, but began representing Mexico in 2018. [3] [6]

Career

In 2018, Esparza became the Mexican national all-around champion, also taking the gold on the uneven bars and the silver on the balance beam. [7] She was selected to the Mexican team for the 2018 Pan American Championships alongside Paulina Campos, Alexa Moreno, Nicolle Castro and Natalia Escalera. They took the bronze medal in the team final behind the United States and Brazil. Individually, Esparza placed ninth in the all-around final. [8] Esparza also competed at the 2018 World Championships in Doha, Qatar, where she placed 32nd in the individual all-around and 19th with the Mexican team. [9]

In 2019, Esparza won the gold medal in the uneven bars final at the Guimarães World Challenge Cup in Portugal. [2] At the 2019 World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany she placed 21st with the Mexican team during qualifications. [10]

Esparza joined the UCLA Bruins women's gymnastics team as a freshman for the 2020–21 season. [11] [12] At the 2021 PAC-12 Championships, she contributed to the team's third-place finish and placed fourth on the uneven bars individually. [13]

Competitive history

YearEventTeamAA VT UB BB FX
Junior
2016 U.S. Classic 13
U.S. Championships 24
Senior
2017 Brestyan's National QualifierBronze medal icon.svg
U.S. Classic 11
U.S. Championships 21
2018 Mexican ChampionshipsGold medal icon.svgGold medal icon.svgSilver medal icon.svg
Mexican TrialGold medal icon.svgBronze medal icon.svgGold medal icon.svgGold medal icon.svg
Pan American Championships Bronze medal icon.svg9
World Championships 1932
2019 Guimarães World Challenge Cup Gold medal icon.svg
World Championships 21
NCAA
2021 PAC-12 Championships Bronze medal icon.svg4

References

  1. "UCLA Gymnastics - Frida Esparza". UCLA Bruins . Archived from the original on 22 June 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Frida Esparza". The Gymternet. 19 September 2018. Archived from the original on 5 November 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  3. 1 2 "Frida Esparza FIG Athlete Profile". International Gymnastics Federation (FIG). Archived from the original on 31 August 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  4. "Getting to Know Frida Esparza". UCLA Bruins . 8 October 2020. Archived from the original on 18 January 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  5. "East Bay Gymnast Carries Mexico's Olympic Hopes". NBC Bay Area. 16 January 2019. Archived from the original on 31 August 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  6. "Frida Esparza USAG Profile". USA Gymnastics . Archived from the original on 31 August 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  7. "2018 Mexican Championships results". The Gymternet. 8 June 2018. Archived from the original on 1 August 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  8. "2018 Pan American Championships results". The Gymternet. 15 September 2018. Archived from the original on 18 July 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  9. "2018 World Championships results". The Gymternet. 6 November 2018. Archived from the original on 19 January 2019. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  10. "2019 World Championships Women's Qualifications results" (PDF). Gymnasticsresults.com. 4 October 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 September 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  11. "UCLA gymnastics leaning 'on everyone' to replace vaunted senior class". Los Angeles Times . 23 January 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-08-31. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
  12. "New stars emerge as UCLA gymnastics defeats Arizona State in opener". Los Angeles Daily News. 23 January 2021. Archived from the original on 2 September 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  13. "2021 PAC-12 Championship results" (PDF). UCLA Bruins . Archived (PDF) from the original on 31 August 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2021.