Clarissa Chun set to compete in FILA Pan American Olympic Games Qualifying Tournament

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Craig Sesker (USA Wrestling)
03/12/2012


Clarissa Chun will take aim at qualifying the final women’s freestyle spot for the United States for the 2012 Olympic Games.

Chun will be the lone U.S. women’s entry at the FILA Pan American Olympic Games Qualifying Tournament, set for March 23-25 at the Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee, Fla.

Chun placed fifth in the 2008 Olympic Games before winning a World title later that year. Chun is a four-time U.S. World Team member at 48 kg/105.5 lbs.

The top two finishers at each weight class will qualify their countries for the 2012 Olympic Games, set for this August in London, England. There will be no true second-place matches, so the two wrestlers that advance to the finals will qualify their countries for the Olympics.

The Pan American countries can only enter athletes in weight classes where they have not qualified for the Olympics. The U.S. has qualified in 3-of-4 weight classes for the Olympics in women’s freestyle. Canada has qualified for the Olympics in two classes and Colombia in one.

Wrestlers who finished in the top six at the 2011 World Championships qualified their country for the Olympics in the weight class they competed in.

The U.S. has already qualified for the Olympic Games in women’s freestyle at 55 kg/121 lbs., 63 kg/138.75 lbs. and 72 kg/158.5 lbs. Canada has qualified for the Olympics at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. and 55 kg/121 lbs. Colombia has qualified at 48 kg/105.5 lbs.

Tickets for this event are $25 for all sessions and $15 per day for adults. Tickets for youth ages 6-18 are $15 for all sessions and $10 per day. Children five and under will be admitted for free.

Two more Olympic Games qualifiers will be held after the Pan American qualifier.

The first will be in Taiyuan, China on April 27-29 and the second in Helsinki, Finland on May 4-6.

FILA PAN AMERICAN OLYMPIC GAMES QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT
March 23-25, Kissimmee, Fla.

U.S. WOMEN’S FREESTYLE LINEUP
48 kg/105.5 lbs. – Clarissa Chun, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)

EVENT SCHEDULE

Friday, March 23
1-5 p.m. – Qualification rounds and repechage: Greco Roman (55 kg, 60 kg, 66 kg, 74 kg, 84 kg, 96 kg).
6-8 p.m. – Finals

Saturday, March 24
1-5 p.m. – Qualification rounds and repechage: Greco-Roman (120 kg), women’s freestyle (48 kg, 55 kg, 63 kg, 72 kg), freestyle (55 kg).
6-8 p.m. – Finals

Sunday, March 25
1-5 p.m. – Qualification rounds and repechage: Freestyle (60 kg, 66 kg, 74 kg, 84 kg, 96 kg, 120 kg)
6-8 p.m. – Finals