U.S. women grapple with inexperience
BEIJING (AP) - Sara McMann was good enough for silver in the first Olympics with women’s wrestling. She wasn’t good enough to make this U.S. women’s team.
Patricia Miranda took home a bronze from Athens in 2004 yet, like McMann, was beaten in the U.S. trials two months ago. So was two-time world champion Kristie Marano.
That’s a lot of potential medals lost, and a whole lot of pressure on the wrestlers in Beijing who are replacing them, to match or surpass the two medals won in four weight classes in 2004.
Ask the wrestlers who were good enough to get here, and they’ll tell you that energy and enthusiasm can be as important as experience in a sport that remains in its infancy. One, too, that many Americans have never seen in person since so few colleges and high schools offer the sport.
The American women hit the mats starting Saturday for the two-day Olympic competition, with Clarissa Chun (48 kilograms) and Marcie Van Dusen (55 kg) up first. Randi Miller (63 kg) and Ali Bernard (72 kg), both wrestling in their first senior-level world championship, go on Sunday.
“The names may change, but the results must stay the same,” U.S. coach Terry Steiner said. “Since the last Olympics, we’ve had four more years [to build]. … We are ready. We are very capable.”
This retooled team, with none of the four Olympians from Athens, may get a good idea Saturday of how it will do.
Chun, nearly 27, could never seem to get past Miranda, but dominated her longtime nemesis in the U.S. trials. That makes her confident she can make a big push in a weight class controlled by two-time world champion Chiharu Icho of Japan since she lost the gold to Ukraine’s Irini Merlini in Athens.
“I’m going to close everything out, close out the bright lights, I’m not going to look for anyone in the stands,” said Chun, who competed in Hawaii for one of the few high schools with girls wrestling. “I’m going to go on that wrestling mat like I did for trials.”
Her coach, Keith Wilson, is certain what will happen if she does.
“I don’t think they’re ready for the level she’s bringing,” Wilson said. “I don’t think, honestly, there’s too many girls right now that, when she’s wrestling her best, bring the game she brings.”
Chun, who is 4-foot-11, has been mistaken for a gymnast several times and a judo team member in the Olympic Village, but no one has pegged her as a wrestler.
“They’re profiling me,” she said, laughing.
From NBC.com
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