Steven Lopez

Sport: Taekwondo

Nation: United States of America

DOB: November 9, 1978

Hometown: Sugar Land, TX

Career Highlights: Lopez first began to gain interest in taekwondo at the age of five, and his early start may ultimately have given him a leg up on the competition. Lopez is one of the more celebrated athletes in the little-known sport, having won gold in 2000 and 2004, and a bronze at the 2008 Beijing Games. Lopez heads to London after defeating TJ Curry in the men’s 80kg class at the Olympic Trials. The Sugar Land, Texas, native went up 4-0 before holding on for a 4-3 victory. Lopez will be joined by sister Diana on the US national team along with Paige McPherson and Terrence Jennings. Lopez was ranked 16th by the WTF in the welterweight division as of March. He is coached by older brother Jean, a two-time Pan American champion. His younger brother Mark, a 2008 Olympic silver medalist, just missed out on qualifying for the 2012 Games. Lopez was named USA Taekwondo male co-athlete of the year in 2005, sharing the award with Mark.

Olympic History: 2008,2004,2000