Anni Espar


Anna "Anni" Espar Llaquet is a Spanish water polo player who won the gold medal at the 2013 World Championships in Barcelona. She also won the silver medal at the 2012 and 2020 Summer Olympics.

College career

Espar joined the University of Southern California women's water polo team in 2012. As a Freshman she was named to the ACWPC All-America First Team, All-MPSF First Team, MPSF All-Newcomer Team and MPSF Player of the Week on 25 February after scoring 8 goals in her first major tournament as a Trojan.
In 2013, she won the NCAA in the longest match in championship game history. Espar scored the winning goal in the third sudden-death overtime period.

International career

Espar played on the Spain national team which won the silver medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. She scored 15 goals and was named to the Olympic All-Star Team.
In 2012 Espar was named Best European Female Water Polo Player by the LEN.
Espar joined the Sydney Uni Lions women's water polo team in 2017 winning the Australian League and ending with an unprecedented undefeated season for the Lions. Espar was also named to the 2017 NWPL All Star Team.
Espar also played on the Spanish national team which won the silver at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. She scored again 15 goals and was named to the Olympic All-Star Team for the second time in her career.

Personal life

Espar's younger sister, Clara, is also a professional water polo player.

International competitions