Members of the U.S. Olympic Team for Taekwondo arrived in Beijing on Thursday to a throng of cameras and reporters eager to capture their arrival. The team will attend tonight's opening ceremonies and then resume their training in Beijing leading up to the start of the Taekwondo competition on Aug. 20.
"I'm happy to be here in Beijing," said men's welterweight Steven Lopez. "We were anxious to get here. I can't wait to go to opening ceremonies tomorrow night and I look forward to walking in with my family and my teammates."
Women's flyweight Charlotte Craig echoed Steven Lopez' sentiments: "It's a dream come true and I'm happy I'm finally here," Craig said.
The Lopez family were surprised to see their parents, Julio and Ondina, waiting for them at the airport.
"I was so excited to see my mom and dad," said women's featherweight Diana Lopez. "I haven't seen them in awhile and I just wanted to hug them. They were so happy to see us."
Men's featherweight Mark Lopez was also pleasantly surprised by the abundance of media and cameras that greeted their arrival.
"It was pretty flattering and I hope we have many more opportunities," he said.
"I'm happy to be here in Beijing," said men's welterweight Steven Lopez. "We were anxious to get here. I can't wait to go to opening ceremonies tomorrow night and I look forward to walking in with my family and my teammates."
Women's flyweight Charlotte Craig echoed Steven Lopez' sentiments: "It's a dream come true and I'm happy I'm finally here," Craig said.
The Lopez family were surprised to see their parents, Julio and Ondina, waiting for them at the airport.
"I was so excited to see my mom and dad," said women's featherweight Diana Lopez. "I haven't seen them in awhile and I just wanted to hug them. They were so happy to see us."
Men's featherweight Mark Lopez was also pleasantly surprised by the abundance of media and cameras that greeted their arrival.
"It was pretty flattering and I hope we have many more opportunities," he said.