Steven Lopez Rebounds to Win Olympic Bronze Medal

Bill Kellick - USA Taekwondo August 22, 2008

Photo: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Steven Lopez (red) of the United States fights Bahri Tanrikulu (blue) of Turkey in the Men's Taekwondo 80kg Preliminary round of 16 bout at the University of Science and Technology Beijing Gymnasium on Day 14 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 22

After suffering his first-ever defeat in three Olympic Games, and first loss in six years, welterweight Steven Lopez (Sugar Land, Texas) rebounded to win a bronze medal Friday night at the Beijing University of Science and Technology Gymnasium.

Italy's Mauro Sarmiento, the eventual silver medalist, defeated Lopez in sudden-death overtime in the quarterfinal round. When Sarmiento advanced to the finals, Lopez was entered into the repechage for one of two bronze medals. Lopez defeated Sebastien Konan from the Ivory Coast, 3-0, and then defeated Azerbaijan's Rashad Ahmadov for the bronze medal, 3-2.

The bronze medal gives the Lopez siblings three medals at the Beijing Games. Diana Lopez captured bronze in the women's featherweight division and Mark Lopez was the silver medalist in the men's featherweight class.

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On August 26, 2008 alexander alonso wrote

The entire Lopez family should be proud of their accomplishments in Beijing. They represented the USA Team with class, proffesionalism, and dignity. They served as an inspiration for me in particular, as I have started once again to train in Taekwondo after a long haitus. After seeing all the coverage of the Olympics and the Lopez family, I dusted off my old uniform and I am back in the gym...training and feeling those all too familiar aches and pains of a good workout. I wish them the best. They did their country proud!
On August 29, 2008 erica sailors wrote

I am disapointed with the performance of the lopez family. They should have should more grace when they lost. They are not owed gold medals.
On September 01, 2008 Jorge Reyes wrote

You have to remember that there is alot of politics in the Olympics, steven is already a Gold medalist and as a Nicaraguan born and a VERY praud American citizen i'm very praud of the Lopez Family. I ask the Lopez family to pass on their teachings and open a location in miami for all those kids in miami that need a mentor and leaders to show them all they have learned, I could already see it the Lopez Academy located in west kendall or sweet water.