The U.S. Olympic Committee and USA Taekwondo will host a media teleconference with two-time Olympic gold medalist and four-time World Champion Steven Lopez, 2005 world champion and 2007 world championship bronze medalist Diana Lopez, and 2005 world champion Mark Lopez on Monday, August 20 at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time (11:30 a.m. Mountain). Also, on the call will be older brother and coach Jean Lopez.

WHAT: USOC/U.S. Taekwondo Team Teleconference

WHO: Taekwondo World Champions Steven, Diana and Mark Lopez along with their coach Jean Lopez

WHEN: Monday, August 20 at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time (11:30 a.m. Mountain)

DIAL IN: 1-800-311-9410 (International Toll Free - 334-323-7224)
Passs code: USOC

Steven, Diana and Mark (Sugar Land, Texas) will have the opportunity to take large steps towards qualifying for the 2008 Olympic Games when they compete at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Colorado Springs, Colo., Aug. 23-24. A win in each of their respective weight divisions will send them to Manchester, England for the World Olympic Qualifying event on Sept. 28-30 and bring them closer to becoming the first group of three siblings to qualify for the Olympic Games in the same sport in the same year since the 1904 Games.

Steven Lopez finished off his fourth consecutive World Championship title this year and also took first in the Sr. National Team Trials. He has not lost a match since 2000 and has earned gold in the last two Olympic Games.

For a more in-depth bio on Steven Lopez, check out: http://www.usa-taekwondo.us/92_853.htm

Diana Lopez won the USA Taekwondo Female Athlete of the Year award in 2005 and 2006 and finished first in the Sr. National Team Trials in 2007.

For a more in-depth bio on Diana Lopez, check out: http://www.usa-taekwondo.us/92_463.htm

Mark Lopez won the USA Taekwondo Male Co-Athlete of the Year in 2005 along with his brother Steven and was the top finisher at the 2007 Sr. National Team Trials. His World Championship title in 2005 helped him, Steven and Diana make history when they all won world titles in the same year.

For a more in-depth bio on Mark Lopez, check out: http://www.usa-taekwondo.us/92_378.htm

Jean Lopez was the 2004 Olympic Team coach for Taekwondo and also won a silver medal at the 1995 World Championships.

The U.S. team as a whole will look to continue its Olympic Games success in Beijing. The United States has medaled in the sport of Taekwondo in each of the four Olympic Games that it has participated in, winning 20 medals from 29 athletes for a success rate of 69 percent. Taekwondo was a demonstration sport in 1988 and 1992, becoming an official part of the Olympic program in 2000.

In Athens in 2004, the U.S. sent two athletes and both came home with hardware: gold for Steven Lopez and silver for Nia Abdallah (Houston, Texas). Abdallah presents the biggest roadblock for Diana Lopez at next week’s Trials.

With the International Olympic Committee allotting each country two weight classes per gender (out of four total weight classes), the United States has determined, based upon recent results in major international competitions, to pursue Olympic qualifying spots for the men’s bantam/feather and light/welter divisions, and the women’s fin/fly and bantam/feather divisions.

For more information, please contact the USOC Communications Division at (719) 866-4529 or USA Taekwondo’s Bill Kellick at (719) 866-3626.