Lopezes reflect on medal haul at Beijing Olympics

Steven, Mark and Diana, the fighting siblings of Sugar Land, spend their days practicing and competing in a sport, Olympic taekwondo, where the name of the game is to kick and be kicked.

So it's not surprised that they leave the Olympic Games of Beijing a little bruised and, in bronze medalist Diana Lopez's case, more than a little hoarse from two days of cheering for her older brothers.

They leave China a little broken, too. Silver medalist Mark Lopez suffered two broken bones in his right hand on the first exchange in his first of four matches and will face surgery when he returns home next week.

And, given the law of averages, it's no surprise they will leave a little downhearted, too, in the wake of a referee's controversial decision Friday that helped short-circuit Steven Lopez's path toward a third career gold medal and relegated him to bronze.

But for the siblings and their coach, oldest brother Jean Lopez, the hardware around their necks and their placement in the medal listings pale in comparison to the satisfaction of experiencing the Olympics as a family affair.

"This was the chance of a lifetime," Diana Lopez said. "We made history, and we're coming home with three medals. We enjoyed it all: the process, the journey. We're here and we're healthy, even though Marky has his little bumps and bruises, and we have to thank God for everything."

Jean Lopez said the absence of a gold medal in the family's carry-on bags does not reduce the magnitude of its accomplishments.

"It (three medals) represents success. It really does," he said.

"I can't say we're not highly disappointed with the way things turned out (in Steven Lopez's quest for a third gold), but, looking at everything, you can't dismiss the fact that we created even more history. It's not the color of medal we wanted, but we brought three Lopezes to Beijing. They came as Olympians, and they will leave as Olympic medalists."

Upon the family's return to Texas, the first order of business is Mark Lopez's left hand, which was broken in his opening match Thursday against Nesar Amhad Bahave of Afghanistan. Team doctors talked about sending him home Friday, but when Mark Lopez insisted on attending his older brother's matches, they wrapped it in gauze and Ace bandages from fingers to wrist.

"First exchange of the first fight," he said. "I said, `Ooh, I felt that. But I said to just keep fighting and hopefully it won't affect me the rest of the time. The doctor and trainer did an excellent job of treating me. I didn't feel much pain."

He said he suffered a compound fracture of the third and fourth metacarpal and will undergo surgery as early as next week.

Looming next year is the world championships in Copenhagen, which Steven Lopez anticipates with a vengeance. Beyond that, the 2012 Olympics beckon.

"This (his performance Friday) encourages me," he said. "I'm upset. Golly, you know, I mean, jeez, I'm upset. I love winning. I hate losing. It drives me. By no means does this take away from me wanting to go back in 2012 and show them that I'm a champion."

Once Mark Lopez recovers from surgery, he intends to continue his quest of match, or at least keeping up, with Steven's four world titles.

"This is fun. We're having fun," Mark Lopez said. "Why stop something you love and have a lot of fun doing together."

First, however, will come rest and recuperation, even if they literally don't know the meaning of the phrase.

"I think we can have some r-and-r now," Diana Lopez said.

"What the hell is that?" Mark Lopez said.

"Someone said it to me yesterday," she replied.

"Yeah, and I didn't know what it meant then, either," he said.

Now, perhaps, he'll have time to learn.