American to meet Iraqi in taekwondo

ATHENS, Greece, Aug. 25 (UPI) -- The taekwondo draw Wednesday placed American Steven Lopez against Iraqi Raid Rasheed in the first round of the 80-kilogram weight class.

Lopez will take on Rasheed Saturday in the preliminary round of 16. This is a move up in class for Lopez, who won the gold medal in the 68-kilogram class four years ago in Sydney.

Lopez, 25, from Sugar Land, Texas, comes from a big family of taekwondo competitors. All of his siblings have been at the world elite level -- brothers Jean and Mark and sister Diana.