ISLE PROFILE
Tae kwon do coach reaches pinnacle of career — Olympics

By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer

Coach Dae Sung Lee helps Cameron Chang, 5, of Hawai'i Kai, with his technique during a tae kwon do class at Lee's U.S. Taekwondo Center in 'Aina Haina. Lee will be the head coach of the U.S. team at the 2004 Olympics. Rebecca Breyer • The Honolulu Advertiser Dae Sung Lee Born: Aug. 6, 1958 in Seoul, Korea Education: Moanalua High School, Class of 1977, University of Hawai'i Awards: Nine-time U.S. national champion; four-time gold medalist at Pan American Taekwondo Championships. Facts on 2004 Olympics: There will be 28 sports. ... An Olympic sport must be widely practiced by men in at least 75 countries and on four continents, and by women in at least 40 countries and on three continents.

One of those will be to continue the U.S. team's gold-medal winning streak at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece.

The U.S. team won a total of six gold medals in 1988 and 1992 when tae kwon do was a demonstration sport. In 2000, the United States won one gold when tae kwon do was named a medal sport.

"So far we always had a gold medal," said Lee, who was an assistant coach for the U.S. team in 1988 and 1992, and a technical coach in 2000. "Everyone knows that I'm one of the top coaches in the world. So they are expecting at least two gold. But winning two gold in the Olympic Games is like grabbing a star in the sky."

For a sport such as tae kwon do, being selected as an Olympic coach is quite an achievement, according to Sammy Pejo, who coaches the Pan Am Games team with Lee and is one of the resident coaches at the U.S. Olympic Training Center.

"In our sport, there's no higher pinnacle than Olympic coach," Pejo said. "Obviously we don't have the opportunities professional coaches in high-profile sports have like basketball, football or baseball. For us, this is it. This is as good as it gets. It's a huge honor."

The 2004 Olympics are Aug. 13-29 with the tae kwon do competition scheduled for Aug. 26-29 at the 8,000-seat Faliro Costal Zone Olympic Complex, Sports Pavilion. There will be 124 competitors from five continents taking part at the competition. The United States team can have a maximum of two men and two women.

Pejo said the "stars have to be aligned right" to win a gold medal at the Olympics. But Lee's coaching ability gives the team the best chance, he said.

"The Olympics, I'm not going to kid you, it's a tough venue to be successful at," said Pejo, who won the World University Championships in 1990 and won a silver medal at 1995 Pan Am Games. "But nevertheless, our Olympic hopefuls are very familiar with coach Lee. He's been the national coach for probably more than 10 years and he's interacted with these same athletes for quite a long time. They're very comfortable with him and he's very comfortable with the game at the international level."

Lee said he believes Texas' Steven Lopez, who won a gold medal at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, has one of the best shots of winning another medal.

"Steve Lopez has a very good chance," Lee said. "He won the (2001) world championship, too."

The U.S. team will face challenges from several countries that have adopted the Korean-born martial art and have become prolific. In the men's competition, Iran and France are really tough, Lee said. In women's competition, China, the United States and Turkey are contenders, he said.

"Korea dominated when I was competing in '70s and '80s," Lee said. "But as soon as we reached the '90s, it's all spread out now. I think it's very good."

Lee was born in Seoul, Korea and moved to Hawai'i in 1971. In 1993, he opened the U.S. Taekwondo Center at the 'Aina Haina Shopping Center where he coaches about 300 students ranging in age from 3 1/2 to 60.

Reach Brandon Masuoka at 535-2458 or bmasuoka@honoluluadvertiser.com.