Clarissa Chun recognizes it in their eager eyes these days, the focused intensity and diesel drive of young women working to become world wrestling champions and Olympic medalists.

It was something that she has long brought to the mat.

But after becoming the first U.S. women’s wrestler to compete in consecutive Olympiads (2008 and ’12) and just missing out on qualifying for two others (2004 and ’16), it is the opportunity to help them realize their dreams that now propels Chun in early-morning training sessions.

At the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, her home as a wrestler for the better part of 15 years, Chun is stepping into the role as a assistant national women’s team coach, a position she assumed Monday with passion.

With what Chun calls “my new hat on,” she will work with aspiring wrestlers from all levels — cadet, junior and senior. “From what I went through, I feel like I can be of help to a lot of wrestlers. I can tell them, ‘It is OK, you can talk to me about any of this.’”

There are still times on the mat when the Roosevelt High graduate admits, “Sometimes, I feel like, ‘Oh, yeah, I can still do this (as a competitor).’ ”

But for all the times that her youthful features have prompted wrestlers to do a double take on learning her age (35) and call her “sweet baby face,” Chun quickly notes a 36th birthday is around the corner and “wrestling is a tough sport and I’d be 39 for the 2020 (Tokyo) Games.”

After three shoulder surgeries — “I probably need a fourth” — two knee surgeries and an elbow operation, Chun says, “I also know what it takes to fully compete at the (elite) level and I have no desire to compete there anymore. I think the best way that I can compete is to try and get these women to the (awards) podium. That’s what I’m competing for now.”

If her résumé, including an Olympic bronze and World and Pan American Games championships, wasn’t enough for the position, Chun might have sewed it up with how she handled her third-place finish in the 2016 U. S. Olympic Trials. After losing to Helen Maroulis, Chun went to Rio de Janeiro as a training partner, helping Maroulis become the first U.S. women’s wrestler to earn a gold medal.

While Chun knew she wanted to go into coaching, she said she was unsure of what the platform would be among an array of choices. For a time in 2016 she served as director of operations for the men’s team in West Virginia while training for the U.S. Trials. More recently, she entertained thoughts of opening up an academy in Honolulu. There were also college offers, including one from her alma mater, Missouri Valley. And, then, came an invitation from Team USA head coach Terry Steiner, one of her former coaches.

In making the announcement of Chun’s appointment, Steiner said, “Clarissa has always carried herself with dignity and class. She has proven herself as an athlete, and now she has the opportunity to share her knowledge as a coach and give back to the next generation of superstars.”

Steiner said, “There is no doubt in my mind that Clarissa will develop into one of the great coaches of the sport of women’s wrestling. She has the right skill set and personality to go with it.”

Chun said, “After my first Olympics (2008 in Beijing), I felt like I wanted to try to go to every Olympics.” Now she has just the path to do it.

And if she can take some proteges along with her, all the better.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@staradvertiser.com or 529-4820.