Samantha Peszek

Samantha Peszek, an Olympic gold medalist in gymnastics, showcased her exceptional skills and contributed to Team USA's triumph at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Gymnast

December 14, 1991

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Samantha Peszek is a former American artistic gymnast and a member of the U.S. women’s gymnastics team at the 2008 Summer Olympics, which won silver. After her elite gymnastics career, Peszek competed for the UCLA Bruins. She later joined ESPN in 2021 as a sideline reporter for ESPN and SEC Network gymnastics, including the SECN franchise Friday Night Heights. Her assignments span several conferences and platforms, such as the NCAA Championship on ABC.

Peszek made her international debut at the 2006 Pacific Rim Championships, where she won a bronze medal on the uneven bars. She went on to compete at the 2007 World Championships, where she finished 10th in the all-around.

In 2008, Peszek was a member of the U.S. Olympic team that competed at the Beijing Olympics. She helped the team win a silver medal, and she also finished 12th in the all-around.

After the Olympics, Peszek took a break from gymnastics to focus on her education. She attended UCLA, where she competed for the Bruins gymnastics team. Peszek won several individual and team titles during her time at UCLA, and she was named the Pac-12 Gymnast of the Year in 2013.

Peszek returned to international competition in 2015, and she competed at the World Championships that year. She finished 11th in the all-around, and she helped the U.S. team win a bronze medal.

In addition to her gymnastics career, Peszek is also a motivational speaker and has her own gymnastics academy. She is married to fellow gymnast Adam Wright, and the couple has two children together.

Peszek is known for her powerful tumbling and her expressive dance routines. She is also an accomplished pianist and enjoys playing the guitar.