Nicknamed Camau, Espínola was born in Corrientes and started training at the Club Náutico de La Totora in his home province.

He obtained his first important award, a silver medal, during the Pan American Games held in 1991 in Havana.

He is also the only sportsperson who had the honor of being the flag bearer for Argentina in two Summer Olympic Games (2000 in Sydney and 2004 in Athens).

Espínola was nominated as the Front for Victory candidate for governor ahead of the September 2013 elections in Corrientes.

He was defeated by incumbent Governor Ricardo Colombi of the centrist UCR, however, by a 51-to-46% margin; Espínola was succeeded as mayor by fellow Front for Victory lawmaker Fabián Ríos.