Peter Lopez: Going for Olympic gold

"A medal is achievable," says Peter Lopez.

Peter Lopez, 26, is the first Peruvian taekwondo athlete to take part in the Olympic Games. "It's a tremendous honour," he says.

Look at Peter Lopez's photo diary

Lopez, of Peruvian origin, was born in the US, but when he was five, his family returned to live in Peru for a few years.

It was in Peru that Peter started his first taekwondo class with his dad, who would later become his coach during the early years of his career as an athlete.

Eventually the Lopez family returned to the States, where Peter began to compete very successfully.

He won the 1998 Youth World Championship and topped the competition's older age group category in 2001.

Peter also won a bronze medal at the 2002 World Cup, silver at the 2002 Pan American Championships and bronze at the 2003 World Championship.

In 2004, the Peruvian Taekwondo Federation invited Peter to lead a training course. It was at then that Lopez decided to represent Peru. Despite this decision, his club Elite in Texas continues to support him.

According to the Peruvian Olympic Committee, of the 15 athletes who are taking part in the Beijing Olympics, Lopez is the one that has the greatest chance of winning a medal in the 'feather' category for competitors weighing up to 68 kilos).