BEIJING, CHINA – Clarissa Chun (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) placed fifth at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. at the women’s freestyle wrestling competition at the China Agricultural University Gymnasium on Saturday.
Chun was pinned in the bronze-medal match by 2004 Olympic champion Irini Merlini of Ukraine in the second period, 2-0, 1:06.
Merlin won the first period with two takedowns. In the second period, Merlini scored first, but Chun came back with an arm throw to tie the match at 1-1. Midway through the period, Merlini took Chun down to her back, and after a struggle, was able to secure the fall at 1:06.
Merlini was the 2004 Olympic champion and won World titles in 2000, 2001 and 2003. She added World silver medals in 2005 and 2007. Merlini was pinned in the quarterfinals by Japan’s Chihiru Icho, putting her into the repechage rounds.
Chun won her first two matches on Saturday morning, but was defeated in a very tight, three-period match in the semifinals by two-time World champion and 2004 Olympic silver medalist Chiharu Icho of Japan, 1-0, 0-1, 1-1.
Chun was a member of the 2000 U.S. World Team. She attended Missouri Valley College and is now a USOTC resident athlete. Chun defeated 2004 Olympic silver medalist Patricia Miranda in the Olympic Trials. She also competed in judo as a youth.
Marcie Van Dusen (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids), who was eliminated in the quarterfinals on Saturday morning, placed ninth in the final standings at 55 kg/121 lbs.
MATCH SUMMARY
Bronze medal - Irini Merlini (Ukraine) pin Clarissa Chun (USA), 2-0, 1:06
First period – Chun came out strong with motion. An attempted arm throw by Chun was countered and Merlini scored the first takedown, 1-0. Merlini tied up Chun with upperbody techniques. Merlini hit an arm spin and after a scramble, she came out with a takedown at 1:35, 2-0.
Second period – Merlini went upperbody again and shucked Chun by to get a takedown in the first 20 seconds, 1-0. Chun hit a one-point arm throw to tie it at 1-1. Merlini rebounded to take Chun down and put her on the back and pinned her at 1:06.
U.S. performances on Saturday
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Clarissa Chun (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids), 5th place
First match - Clarissa Chun (USA) dec. Sofia Mattsson (Sweden), 2-1, 4-1
Quarterfinals – Clarissa Chun (USA) dec. Vanessa Boubryemm (France), 6-1, 2-1
Semifinals – Chiharu Icho (Japan) dec. Clarissa Chun (USA), 1-0, 0-3, 1-1
Bronze medal match – Irini Merlini (Ukraine) pin Clarissa Chun (USA), 2-0, 1:06
55 kg/121 lbs. - Marcie Van Dusen (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids), 9th place
First match – Marcie Van Dusen (USA) dec. Nataliya Synyshyn (Ukraine), 0-4, 1-1, 7-0
Quarterfinals – Jackeline Renteria (Colombia) dec. Marcie Van Dusen (USA), 7-2, 5-3
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