Steven López facts for kids
López visiting the East London School of Tae Kwon-do in London, 2011
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| Born | November 9, 1978 New York City, New York, U.S. |
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| Height | 6 ft 3 in | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 185 lb | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Steven López (born November 9, 1978) is a famous American taekwondo athlete. He has won many big awards, including two gold medals at the Olympic Games in 2000 and 2004. He also earned a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympics. Steven is a 4th Dan in taekwondo, which is a high rank.
He is known for winning five World Championships in taekwondo. This makes him the first taekwondo fighter to achieve this amazing feat. With his two Olympic titles and five World Championship titles, he is one of the most successful taekwondo champions ever.
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Steven López's Early Life and Family
Steven López was born on November 9, 1978, in New York City. His parents, Julio and Ondina, moved to the United States from Nicaragua in 1973. His father worked hard to support the family, and they later moved to Texas.
Steven's father encouraged all his children to learn taekwondo. Steven started learning at age five in his garage, taught by his father and his older brother, Jean. Steven graduated from Kempner High School in Sugar Land, Texas, in 1997. He was a member of the National Honor Society.
The López Family in Taekwondo
Steven's siblings, Mark, Diana, and Jean López, are all very talented in taekwondo. Jean is also their coach. Mark and Diana both competed for the United States at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. This was a special moment because it was the first time since 1904 that three siblings were on the same Olympic team.
In April 2005, Steven, Mark, and Diana made sports history. They each won a world championship title at the same event, the 2005 World Taekwondo Championships. Their oldest brother, Jean, was there as their coach, helping them achieve this incredible success. Steven and Diana also qualified for the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
Steven López is a Roman Catholic. He attends St. Theresa Catholic Church in Sugar Land, Texas. He has shared that his faith is a very important part of his life.
Steven López's Achievements
Steven López has had a long and successful career in taekwondo. Here are some of his major achievements:
- 2015 Grand Prix: Bronze Medal
- 2015 Pan American Games: Bronze Medal
- 2014 Grand Prix: Silver Medal
- 2014 USA Open: Gold Medal
- 2013 Argentina Open: Gold Medal
- 2009 World Taekwondo Championships (Welterweight): Gold Medal
- 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics: Bronze Medal
- 2007 World Taekwondo Championships (Welterweight): Gold Medal
- 2005 U.S. Olympic Committee Male Athlete of the Month (April)
- 2004 Athens Summer Olympics: Gold Medal
- 2003 World Taekwondo Championships: Gold Medal
- 2003 Pan American Games: Gold Medal
- 2002 World Cup Taekwondo Championships: Bronze Medal
- 2001 World Taekwondo Championships: Gold Medal
- 2000 Sydney Summer Olympics: Gold Medal
- 1999 Pan American Games: Gold Medal
- 1997 World Cup Taekwondo Championships: Gold Medal
- 1996 World Junior Taekwondo Championships: Gold Medal
See also
In Spanish: Steven López para niños
