World champion Clarissa Chun ready for another run at gold medal

Clarissa Chun competes against Japan's Chiharu Icho in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. Photo by Larry Slater.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Clarissa Chun knows the 2009 World Championships are more than two months away.

But she wouldn't mind if the tournament was held a little earlier.

"I'm already getting fired up for the Worlds," Chun said with a laugh. "I can't wait to get out there and wrestle. I'll be ready."

Chun turns 28 next month, and she's the oldest person on the seven-member U.S. Women's World Freestyle Team.

But Chun, a 2008 World champion who also placed fifth at the 2008 Olympic Games, is nowhere near ready for retirement.

"I feel great - I'm excited about the next four years," she said. "This year has been such a different challenge for me. Last year, I was the underdog and now I'm a World champion. I need to make sure my approach is that I'm going after another title instead of defending a title. I need to earn it again. This is a whole new year and I can't think about what happened last year."

The explosive, 4-foot-11 Chun is a tough wrestler to match up against. She's agile and athletic, and has an extensive judo background. Her judo skills enable her to throw opponents. But she also is adept at shooting in on leg attacks and has excellent technique.

She used a strong leg attack to pull out a tough semifinal win over Japan's Makiko Sakamoto at the 2008 Worlds in Tokyo.

"I try to keep my opponents off balance, and I have a lot of different moves that I can go to," she said. "I need to make sure I open up and wrestle hard for the full six minutes."

It was another wrestler from Japan, past World champion Chiharu Icho, who stopped Chun in her quest to win the Olympics last August in Beijing, China.

Chun had the lead late in her semifinal match with Icho before Icho rallied to win the match. Chun ended up placing fifth.

Chun, a native of Honolulu, Hawaii, bounced back from that loss to win the World Championships last October in Japan.

"That loss to Japan in the Olympics is a huge motivator," she said. "It's still hard for me to talk about that match. It's what pushed me to win the World Championships, and it's what motivates me and drives me right now. I know I definitely could've done better at the Olympics."

Chun said her coach, Keith Wilson, has continued to play a key role in her success. Chun recently won the Canada Cup at 48 kg/105.5 lbs.

"Keith keeps telling me I need to open up and keep getting after it like I did last year," Chun said. "I need to keep wrestling hard. I can't relax out there, even when I have a lead. I want to dominate. I don't just want to win, I want to dominate."

Chun said Sakamoto, a World bronze medalist, will be among the wrestlers who likely will be in her bracket at September's World Championships in Herning, Denmark.

"Obviously, it will be another real tough tournament," she said. "It's a random draw, so you could face the best wrestlers right away. You have to be ready every time you step on the mat. I'm ready for the challenge."

Chun is part of a young and talented U.S. women's team that includes 2008 Olympian Ali Bernard and 2008 World bronze medalist Tatiana Padilla.

"I think we could do real well as a team," Chun said. "We have some good young girls on this team."

Bernard, like Chun, fell in the bronze-medal match at the Olympics. Bernard competes at 72 kg/158.5 lbs.

"Ali's a real tough wrestler - she could do really well," Chun said. "She was very close to winning a medal in Beijing. She's funky and she gets after it."

Winning a gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics is Chun's ultimate goal.

"I have thought a little bit about London," she said. "I enjoyed the Olympic experience in Beijing and I would love another chance to compete in the Olympics in 2012. Right now, I'm just taking it year by year. All my focus is on winning Worlds in 2009.

"I want to be a World champion again, and I want to win a gold medal at the Olympics. That's what I'm working toward.