Chun hoping to receive another shot at gold at World Championships

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Women's freestyle wrestler Clarissa Chun figured this might be it.

The 2008 season likely would be her last on the wrestling mat.

But after landing a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team and narrowly missing winning a medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, the 27-year-old Chun is giving serious consideration to wrestling another four-year cycle.

Chun, fifth at the 2008 Olympics at 48 kg/105.5 lbs., is expected to return to the mat next week for the U.S. World Team Trials for women's freestyle wrestling. The event is set for Sept. 20 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.

The winners in each of the seven weight classes from the World Team Trials will qualify for the World Championships for women, set for Oct. 11-13 in Tokyo, Japan. The women are holding a World Championships this year since only four of the seven international weights for women were contested in the Olympics.

"It's a little tough mentally because nothing's guaranteed - I have to try out again just to make the U.S. team," Chun said. "But I want to compete in the Worlds - just to get that shot again. I'm lucky to have another opportunity so close to the Olympics."

Wrestling the best of her career, Chun surprised many wrestling observers by knocking off Olympic and World medalist Patricia Miranda to make the U.S. Olympic Team in June.

Chun continued to wrestle well at the Olympics, storming into the semifinals opposite two-time World champion and Olympic silver medalist Chiharu Icho of Japan. Chun held the lead with just under a minute left in the match before Icho prevailed 1-0, 0-3, 1-1. Icho won by virtue of scoring last.

"That match really drives me," Chun said. "It's tough to even think about, but it's something that definitely motivates me."

Chun then lost to Olympic and World champion Irini Merlini of Ukraine in the bronze-medal match.

Chun recently watched the match with Icho on NBC's Olympic Website.

"I can't do anything about it now, and I'm not making any excuses," she said. "I did learn a lot from that match and that will help me. Hopefully, I will have better mat strategy and I will minimize the mistakes in the future."

Since competing in the Olympics, Chun spent time visiting the school in Japan where she hopes to teach English to elementary students later this fall. She also spent a handful of days in her native Hawaii before recently returning to Colorado Springs, where she lives and trains.

She was back on the mat this week at the Olympic Training Center, preparing for the World Team Trials. Among the wrestlers Chun likely will have to battle for a spot on the U.S. World Team is Sara Fulp-Allen, who placed third at the 2008 Olympic Trials.

Chun is looking to compete in her second World Championships. She did not place at the 2000 World Championships.

"Even though I came up short of winning a medal, wrestling at the Olympics helped build my confidence," she said. "I know I'm not that far away."

The 2012 Olympic Games in London may seem far away, but it is something Chun already has thought about.

"Being part of the Olympics, it was an amazing experience," she said. "I really thought I was going to be done after this year. But because my Olympic experience was such a positive one, I want to do this again. Nothing is guaranteed, but I want to have another shot at being an Olympian. Sometimes I think, 'Oh my gosh, four years is a long time' but it's worth it to be able to experience being in the Olympics.