US Olympic Wrestling Team 2012: Fun Facts About Team USA Women Wrestlers

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The U.S. Olympic women's wrestling team features four women who look to take home the gold during the London Games. However, they're more than just athletes.

This list is not solely focused on the Olympians' achievements on the mat, but also deals with their lives off of it.

Before these women take to the mat, during the London Olympics, let's learn a bit more about them.

Clarissa Chun Is the First Woman Wrestler to Qualify for Two Olympic Games

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Clarissa Chun of Hawaii is the first woman wrestler to qualify for two different Olympic Games.

After going to the 2008 Games by defeating seven-time national champion Patricia Miranda. She stole the hearts of fans four years ago, and she made it to her second Games this year.

While it can be disputed that she was not first as you will see on the next slide, she is the only one to do so without an asterisk.

Ali Bernard Only Made It Because Stephany Lee Failed a Drug Test

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Ali Bernard is headed to her second Olympic Games, but she is only doing so because she is replacing Stephany Lee, who failed a second drug test.

The four-time national college champion in Canada is headed to her second Olympics, although I would argue that Chun is the first to go to two since she did so by beating her opponents, and not being a replacement.

Bernard is a great wrestler, but she was upset by Lee, and did not get her spot on the team by beating all of her opponents.

Kelsey Campbell's Career Started with a Bet

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Kelsey Campbell has said that her career started because her friends said that she couldn't last two weeks as a wrestler in high school.

Turns out, she could, and now she's one of the best wrestlers in the world because of it.

Hard to imagine that she didn't even know girls wrestled in high school.

Clarissa Chun Is Only 4'11"

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Clarissa Chun is among the shortest athletes who will be in London, standing at just 4'11" and 106 pounds.

However, she packs a punch, and she'll be tough to beat during the London Games.

Elena Pirozhkova Attributes Her Success to Her Large Family

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Elena Pirozhkova comes from a large family. And it apparently helped her.

She says that her family of 10 children helped toughen her up, which could be why she has taken down so many opponents.

The Olympian learned to fend for herself, early on in life, and she continues to use her tactics from childhood on the mat.

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