Pauline Louise Lopez

Pauline Louise Lopez (born 17 August 1996) is a Filipino taekwondo practitioner. She is a two-time gold medalist at the Southeast Asian Games and a bronze medalist at the Asian Games.

Early life

Lopez was born on August 17, 1996, in Los Angeles, California. She began practicing taekwondo at age seven, as her father Efren Lopez Sr. was part of the national team of the martial art back in the late ’80s. She was inspired to take up the sport after being told she couldn't because she was a girl. Her father initially opposed her taekwondo participation due to gender stereotypes and the physical nature of the sport. Lopez's talent caught her father's notice after her initial two years in the sport. He pushed his daughter until she made the national team in the Philippines in 2010.

At age 13,

Career

Lopez competed in the women's 46kg event at the 2010 Asian Games held in Guangzhou, China, making her the youngest among Filipino delegates to the multi-sport continental event.

In 2016, Lopez failed to qualify for the 2016 Summer Olympics after losing her match against Phannapa Harnsujin of Thailand at the 2016 Asian Taekwondo Olympic Qualification Tournament held at the Marriot Convention Center Grand Ballroom in Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines. A few days later, she did win the gold medal in the women's 57kg event at the 2016 Asian Taekwondo Championships held in the same location.

Lopez won one of the bronze medals in the women's 57kg event at the 2018 Asian Games held in Jakarta, Indonesia. In 2019, she won the gold medal in the women's 57kg event at the Southeast Asian Games held in the Philippines, marking a significant comeback from an eight-month losing streak from April to November 2019.

In 2021, Lopez competed at the Asian Olympic Qualification Tournament held in Amman, Jordan hoping to qualify for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. She won her first match and she was then eliminated in her second match by Laetitia Aoun of Lebanon.

Coaching and advocacy

Following her competitive career, Lopez has transitioned into coaching young taekwondo athletes. She focuses on making the sport more inclusive and accessible, particularly for young girls.