Related To Story
STEVEN LOPEZ Favorite Food: Mom's cooking, Chinese food Favorite Color: Red Favorite TV Show: Project Runway, National Geographic, Animal Planet Favorite Movie: Braveheart Favorite Band/Singer: Marc Anthony Favorite Thing To Do When You're Not Training: Play other sports, go shopping and buy stuff for myself Favorite Olympic Sport (Other Than Your Own): Gymnastics Favorite Athlete: Carl Lewis Favorite Place To Compete: Croatia Favorite Place To Vacation: Croatia Do You Have Any Superstitions Or Pre-Competition Rituals? I pray I used to be superstitious with my favorite pads and shin guards, but I stopped that. What's Your Dream Car? Lamborghini |
Q&A With Taekwondo's Steven Lopez
Two-Time Olympic Gold Medalist Enters Third Games
POSTED: 12:19 pm PDT April 29,
2008
UPDATED: 1:16 pm PDT April 30,
2008
After winning gold medals at the 2000 Sydney Games and the 2004 Athens Games, taekwondo fighter Steven Lopez is battling for this third straight gold in Beijing. But this Olympic trip is different for Steven, as he is joined on the U.S. team by his two siblings, Mark and Diana, who are all coached by their oldest brother, Jean.As he prepares for his third Olympics, Steven talks about the pressure to keep winning, competing with his siblings, and how he's really just a "normal" guy. What does it mean to you to be competing at the Olympics with Mark and Diana?
Going into 2008, my dream was to compete with Mark and Diana. I've told them about the Olympics before, and the Opening Ceremony, but now I finally get to do it with them, and make memories with them. And we're doing it while leaving our mark on history.What advice will you give them before they enter their first Olympics?
They ask me here and there about things, and I've always told them that the Olympics are big and awesome, and it's our sport's big show. Other sports, like the NFL, they have other events that happen every year, but for us, it's once every four years that for two weeks the world stops and all eyes are on the Olympics. But I also try to tell them to not make it such a big deal, because then if you worry about it you risk having it work against you and you could choke.
Having won gold in 2000 and 2004, how much pressure is there to 3-peat in 2008?
I would be lying if I said no, but I try to use it as a motivator. I try to do everything that's in my control and leave nothing to chance. If I do everything I need to do and prepare myself 100 percent, then I expect to go out there and win gold.A two-time Olympic champion and a four-time world champion, what is it like being at the top of your sport?
It's an advantage, and at times it has been a disadvantage. It can be a huge advantage in tournaments, because a lot of times I can win about half of my fights because these guys are fighting "Steven Lopez," and for them, they think that it's OK to lose to "him" since he's an Olympic champion, that they're expected to lose. But I like the view from where I'm standing. I've been very blessed. I'm very happy to have sustained my level of success. It's like what my mom always told me growing me, "Whatever you do, do it to the best of your capabilities," never be mediocre, and that's what I try to do.What will you do when you stop competing?
I think taekwondo will always be a part of my life. I think I'll probably go into coaching and help train the future champions. It seems like a natural transition for me.Have you endured any life changes since the Athens Olympics?
I see all of my friends working 9 to 5, and some of them are getting married and having kids, and sometimes I wonder, 'Should I be doing this?' But I love what I do. There are only a few years an athlete has to be at the top of their sport, so I'm just enjoying the journey.In your previous trips to Beijing, what sights did you see that you want to revisit?
I've been to the Great Wall twice, and it's one of those things you just can't see enough. It's awesome. I also like being around different cultures. Last time I was there I went to this dinner, and that was an experience. They served us duck feet. It was disgusting. It tasted like tendons, and then once I asked what it was and they told me duck feet, it tasted even worse.What's one thing you want people to know about you?
Because I've been successful, I think a lot of people assume that I have a big head. But I'm goofy, funny, I think, pretty down-to-earth. I think I'm a pretty "normal" person.
Going into 2008, my dream was to compete with Mark and Diana. I've told them about the Olympics before, and the Opening Ceremony, but now I finally get to do it with them, and make memories with them. And we're doing it while leaving our mark on history.What advice will you give them before they enter their first Olympics?
They ask me here and there about things, and I've always told them that the Olympics are big and awesome, and it's our sport's big show. Other sports, like the NFL, they have other events that happen every year, but for us, it's once every four years that for two weeks the world stops and all eyes are on the Olympics. But I also try to tell them to not make it such a big deal, because then if you worry about it you risk having it work against you and you could choke.
I would be lying if I said no, but I try to use it as a motivator. I try to do everything that's in my control and leave nothing to chance. If I do everything I need to do and prepare myself 100 percent, then I expect to go out there and win gold.A two-time Olympic champion and a four-time world champion, what is it like being at the top of your sport?
It's an advantage, and at times it has been a disadvantage. It can be a huge advantage in tournaments, because a lot of times I can win about half of my fights because these guys are fighting "Steven Lopez," and for them, they think that it's OK to lose to "him" since he's an Olympic champion, that they're expected to lose. But I like the view from where I'm standing. I've been very blessed. I'm very happy to have sustained my level of success. It's like what my mom always told me growing me, "Whatever you do, do it to the best of your capabilities," never be mediocre, and that's what I try to do.What will you do when you stop competing?
I think taekwondo will always be a part of my life. I think I'll probably go into coaching and help train the future champions. It seems like a natural transition for me.Have you endured any life changes since the Athens Olympics?
I see all of my friends working 9 to 5, and some of them are getting married and having kids, and sometimes I wonder, 'Should I be doing this?' But I love what I do. There are only a few years an athlete has to be at the top of their sport, so I'm just enjoying the journey.In your previous trips to Beijing, what sights did you see that you want to revisit?
I've been to the Great Wall twice, and it's one of those things you just can't see enough. It's awesome. I also like being around different cultures. Last time I was there I went to this dinner, and that was an experience. They served us duck feet. It was disgusting. It tasted like tendons, and then once I asked what it was and they told me duck feet, it tasted even worse.What's one thing you want people to know about you?
Because I've been successful, I think a lot of people assume that I have a big head. But I'm goofy, funny, I think, pretty down-to-earth. I think I'm a pretty "normal" person.
Previous Stories:
- April 29, 2008: Q&A With Taekwondo's Mark Lopez
- April 29, 2008: Q&A With Taekwondo's Diana Lopez
- April 5, 2008: Lopez Siblings Make Olympics Family Affair
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