Taekwondo became an Olympic sport in 2000 and has featured men’s and women’s events since then. The US has won six medals in taekwondo including two golds.

The Team:

This year’s team is made up of four athletes, two men and two women

Links are to twitter accounts for the athletes.

USA Taekwondo
Men:
Terrence Jennings – -68kg
Steven Lopez*** – -80kg

Women:
Diana Lopez* – -57kg
Paige McPherson – -67kg
* – Was on team in 2008
*** – Was on team in 2008, 2004, and 2000

Schedule:

In Taekwondo the competitors will participate in a single elimination tournament. All the competitors who lose to a finalist before the final will compete in a repechage to determine the two bronze medalists.

All Times ET
Thursday August 9th
4 AM – Women’s Taekwondo – 57kg – Preliminary Round
4:15 AM – Men’s Taekwondo – 68kg – Preliminary Round
10 AM – Women’s Taekwondo – 57kg – Quarterfinals
10:15 AM – Men’s Taekwondo – 68kg – Quarterfinals
12 PM – Women’s Taekwondo – 57kg – Semifinals
12:15 PM – Men’s Taekwondo – 68kg – Semifinals
3 PM – Women’s Taekwondo – 57kg – Bronze Medal Finals
3:15 PM – Men’s Taekwondo – 68kg – Bronze Medal Finals
5 PM – Women’s Taekwondo – 57kg – Gold Medal Final
5:15 PM – Men’s Taekwondo – 68kg – Gold Medal Final

Friday August 10th
4 AM – Women’s Taekwondo – 67kg – Preliminary Round
4:15 AM – Men’s Taekwondo – 80kg – Preliminary Round
10 AM – Women’s Taekwondo – 67kg – Quarterfinals
10:15 AM – Men’s Taekwondo – 80kg – Quarterfinals
12 PM – Women’s Taekwondo – 67kg – Semifinals
12:15 PM – Men’s Taekwondo – 80kg – Semifinals
3 PM – Women’s Taekwondo – 67kg – Bronze Medal Finals
3:15 PM – Men’s Taekwondo – 80kg – Bronze Medal Finals
5:15 PM – Women’s Taekwondo – 67kg – Gold Medal Final
5:30 PM – Men’s Taekwondo – 80kg – Gold Medal Final

Past Results:

Stevan Lopez is the most experienced of the US Judo team members. Lopez won gold in his first two Olympics in Sydney and Athens but was finally beaten in Beijing. He came through the repechage to win the bronze. Lopez’s sister Diana won the bronze in Beijing as well. Their brother Mark also won the silver, giving the US their most medals ever in taekwondo after two in Athens and one in Sydney.

Terrence Jennings was knocked out in the Round of 64 while Paige McPherson made the quarterfinals at the 2011 World Taekwondo Championship.

It seems the US will be a threat to medal in taekwondo once again in London.