Steven López facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Steven López

López in 2011
Personal information
Born	(1978-11-09) November 9, 1978 (age 46) New York City, New York, U.S.
Height	6 ft 3 in
Weight	185 lb
Medal record Men's Taekwondo Representing  United States Olympic Games Gold 2000 Sydney – 68 kg Gold 2004 Athens – 80 kg Bronze 2008 Beijing – 80 kg World Championships Gold 2001 Jeju Lightweight Gold 2003 Garmisch Welterweight Gold 2005 Madrid Welterweight Gold 2007 Beijing Welterweight Gold 2009 Copenhagen Welterweight World Junior Championships Gold 1996 Barcelona Lightweight Grand Prix Silver 2014 Astana Welterweight Bronze 2015 Moscow Welterweight Pan American Games Gold 1999 Winnipeg – 68 kg Gold 2003 Santo Domingo – 80 kg Bronze 2015 Toronto – 80 kg Pan American Championships Silver 1994 Heredia – 54kg Gold 1996 Havana – 63kg Gold 1998 Lima – 63kg

López (right) with his 2000 Olympics gold medal

Steven López (born November 9, 1978) is an American taekwondo competitor, a 2000 and 2004 Olympic gold medalist (in the -68 and -80 kg divisions, respectively) and a 2008 Olympic bronze medalist (again in the -80 kg division) and 4th Dan in taekwondo. In 2001, he won the Lightweight Taekwondo World Championship, and in 2003 he won the Welterweight Taekwondo World Championship which he has since won in 2005, 2007 and 2009 making him the first Taekwondo fighter to win 5 World Championships. With 2 Olympic titles, 5 titles in taekwondo world championships and 1 title in taekwondo world cup he is the most titled champion after Hadi Saei who earns 9 world class titles (two Olympic titles in 2004 and 2008, two world championships titles, four world cup titles and one world Olympic qualification tournament).

Biography

López was born on November 9, 1978, in New York City to Nicaraguan parents. His parents, Julio and Ondina, immigrated from Nicaragua to the United States in 1973. His father took odd jobs to support his family but later relocated to Texas. López first learned the sport of Taekwondo in his garage at the age of five from his father and Jean, his older brother. He is a 1997 graduate of Kempner High School in Sugar Land, Texas, where he was voted "most likely to succeed" and was member of the National Honor Society.

López's siblings, Mark, Diana and Jean López (coach), are all USA National Team Members in Taekwondo. His younger siblings, Mark and Diana, also represented the United States at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, marking the first time since 1904 that three siblings have been on the same Olympic team. Both López and siblings, Mark (men's featherweight) and Diana (women's featherweight), made sports history in April 2005 when they all claimed a world championship title at the same event (2005 World Taekwondo Championships) with their oldest brother, Jean, participating in the feat as their coach. Steven Lopez and Diana Lopez both qualified for the 2012 Olympic games in London in July 2012 at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO.

In January 2006, López tested positive for a banned substance (L-methamphetamine) which he said came from an over-the-counter vapor inhaler he used. López promptly accepted a three-month suspension and participated in an educational anti-doping program.

López has appeared in People Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People. In 2012, he participated in Fox's dating game show The Choice.

López is a Roman Catholic who attends St. Theresa Catholic Church in Sugar Land, Texas, and has said his faith has always been a very important part of his life.

Career highlights

See also

In Spanish: Steven López para niños

• List of athletes with the most appearances at Olympic Games