For the third time Taekwondo Sparring was a full medal Olympic Sport. The United Sates took a 4 person team to August's Bejiing Olympics. Three of the team members were Siblings Mark, Diana and Steven Lopez.
And the fourth was 17 year old Charlotte Craig. The Lopez siblings competing marked the first time in 104 years that 3 siblings competed at the same Olympics in the same sport.
Although our team was small, they fought hard and came home with 3 medals for their efforts. Charlotte lost by 1 point in the quarterfinals, Steven and Diana came home with Bronze and Mark walked away with the silver. Previously Steven took gold in the 2000 and 2004 Games and was favored to win the highly cometitive Male Welter weight division this time, however, coming home with the bronze did not cause him to act slighted or betray the attitude of a true martial artist.Lopez said, "I came here expecting to win a gold medal, but I guess it wasn't in the cards today. It's hard but I'm hapy with the bronze. I have two ways to look at it, either succub to it and think 'I should have been in the finals', but a champion goes out there with dignity and I wanted to prove to myself and others that I am the best. " About the future he said, "It encourages me to keep going. I am upset. I love winning. I hate losing, and in to way does this discourage me from wanting to go to the 2012 Olympic Games."
It was widely publicized that a fighter from Cuba kicked the referee in the face after being disqualified. We are saddened by this publicity overshadowing the great accomplishments of our hard working Martial Artists, but hope that this opens up discussion amongst our MTC family of what a true martial artist is and how they should handle difficult..even antering situations. Let's be the next true example to the world of what TKD is really about.
From the Desk of Mrs. Rosbarsky
