Olympic medalist and UHD student, Diana Lopez, has written a book with her brothers, Jean, Steven, and Mark called, “Family Power.”
The book, released in late in 2009 by Penguin Press, chronicles their hard work as they became “America’s First Family of Tae Kwon Do.”
“We do everything together,” said Lopez, a junior majoring in interdisciplinary studies. “It made sense to write a book together.”
She won the bronze medal in the Korean martial art of tae kwon do at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Lopez and her brothers made history that year for being the first set of four siblings to represent the U.S. on the same Olympic Team, and for having three siblings win medals in the same sport.
Mark won the silver and Steven the bronze in the men’s competition. Jean coached the U.S. team.In the book, Lopez writes about her parents, Julio and Ondina Lopez, who left Nicaragua in 1972 in search of a better life in the United States.
The siblings take turns writing chapters, telling their story from various viewpoints.
Lopez says “Family Power,” honors the reasons for their success – hard work and family. She wanted to share her family’s story with the world, to help inspire others. They dedicated the book to their parents for “their love and guidance.”
“We support each other,” she said. “When one of us wins, we all win.”
She plans to graduate from in 2012 and plans on teaching kindergarten.
“Learning about childhood education is fun to me,” said Lopez. “It doesn’t seem like work. I love children. I enjoy taking the lessons from class and trying them out on my nieces and nephews. It really takes my mind off of my other life of tae kwon do.”
Friday, January 29, 2010 / Public Affairs
