Stephen Fernandez

Stephen Fernandez
Personal information
Nationality	Filipino
Born	December 26, 1967 (age 58)
Sport
Country	Philippines
Sport	Taekwondo
Achievements and titles
Olympic finals	1992 Summer Olympics: Bantamweight (54–58 kg) Bronze (demonstration);
Medal record
Men's taekwondo
Representing Philippines
Asian Championships
SEA Games

Stephen V. Fernandez is a Filipino taekwondo practitioner and coach.

Early life and education

Stephen Fernandez was born on December 26, 1967. Growing up idolizing Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan, Fernandez and his Korean friend in March 1981 visited Greenhills Shopping Center where he signed up for taekwondo classes.

He is a product of the De La Salle University system, attending from the elementary to college level. He graduated from high school in 1985 and obtained his degree in political science in 1991.

Career

Fernandez have represented the Philippines in international taekwondo competitions. He won a gold medal at the 1987 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Jakarta, Indonesia; a bronze in the 1988 Asian Taekwondo Championships in Kathmandu, Nepal; and a bronze each in the 1989 and 1991 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Manila respectively.

Fernandez is a two-time Olympian having competed in the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul and the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona although taekwondo was held as a demonstration event for both editions. In 1988, Fernandez competed in the flyweight division but was eliminated early by Geremia Di Costanzo of Italy in the first round. He retroactively attributed his early lost to his arrogance.

In 1992 in Barcelona, Fernandez moved up to the bantamweight division. He wanted to win a medal to dedicate it to his mother who was diagnosed with cancer. He went on to win a bronze medal.

From 1989 to 2013, Fernandez was a coach for the taekwondo team of the De La Salle University. As of 2019, he was the sports head of the College of Saint Benilde.

Fernandez was the senior Deputy Chef de Mission for the Philippine delegation at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.

References

1 2 "Fernandez, Stephen". The Living Archive of Olympians PH. Philippine Olympians Association. Retrieved October 3, 2026.
1 2 Suing, Ivan (September 1, 2025). "Blazing the trail". Daily Tribune.
↑ "Fernandez, Stephen V." De La Salle Alumni Association. September 21, 2015. Retrieved October 3, 2026.
↑ "Disaster in Nepal: Fernandez is 3rd; Sokors blitz foes". Manila Standard. Philcom. March 25, 1988. p. 12. Retrieved October 3, 2026.
1 2 Ganglani, Naveen (March 1, 2016). "Taekwondo medalist Stephen Fernandez advises Pinoy Olympic hopefuls". Rappler. Retrieved October 3, 2026.
↑ ""It's fantastic" – Coach Stephen Fernandez on his 24-year coaching stint". DLSU Sports. August 20, 2013. Archived from the original on January 17, 2020. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
↑ "Monsour del Rosario, Olympian Stephen Fernandez expected to grace DELTA's 40th year". Fox Sports. February 15, 2019. Archived from the original on December 9, 2019. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
↑ "Taekwondo's Stephen Fernandez named Sr Deputy Chef de Mission for SEAG". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. July 4, 2019. Retrieved January 17, 2020.

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[olympian-1] 1 2 "Fernandez, Stephen". The Living Archive of Olympians PH. Philippine Olympians Association. Retrieved October 3, 2026.

[blazing-2] 1 2 Suing, Ivan (September 1, 2025). "Blazing the trail". Daily Tribune.

[dlsaa-3] "Fernandez, Stephen V." De La Salle Alumni Association. September 21, 2015. Retrieved October 3, 2026.

[4] "Disaster in Nepal: Fernandez is 3rd; Sokors blitz foes". Manila Standard. Philcom. March 25, 1988. p. 12. Retrieved October 3, 2026.

[advises-5] 1 2 Ganglani, Naveen (March 1, 2016). "Taekwondo medalist Stephen Fernandez advises Pinoy Olympic hopefuls". Rappler. Retrieved October 3, 2026.

[dlsusports-6] ""It's fantastic" – Coach Stephen Fernandez on his 24-year coaching stint". DLSU Sports. August 20, 2013. Archived from the original on January 17, 2020. Retrieved January 17, 2020.

[7] "Monsour del Rosario, Olympian Stephen Fernandez expected to grace DELTA's 40th year". Fox Sports. February 15, 2019. Archived from the original on December 9, 2019. Retrieved January 17, 2020.

[8] "Taekwondo's Stephen Fernandez named Sr Deputy Chef de Mission for SEAG". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. July 4, 2019. Retrieved January 17, 2020.