John Harrell, Associated Press Patricia Miranda celebrates after defeating Clarissa Chun at the U.S. Olympic Wrestling Team Trials in Indianapolis. Click photo for larger image.

Sport: Women's wrestling, 105.5 pounds

Birthplace/hometown: Manteca, Calif./Colorado Springs, Colo.

Age: 25

College: Stanford University, where she was a member of the men's varsity wrestling team.

Olympic experience: None because this will be the first Games open to women's wrestling. She qualified for Athens by sweeping through the championship round, beating Clarissa Chun, 6-3 and 10-0, at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials Sunday in Indianapolis. The 10-0 match was ended early because of a 10-point lead, a rarity in an Olympic-qualifying final.

International achievement: Won gold at 2003 Pan American Games, first in women's wrestling history. ... 2003 World Cup gold medalist ... Two-time silver medalist in World Championships (2000, 2003).

Claim to fame: Women's wrestling is so new that it receives little attention, but that could change for Miranda, who will be the Americans' most decorated participant in Athens.

Goal for Athens: After recent international success, Miranda will be considered a gold-medal favorite. She seemed to realize that immediately upon winning Sunday. "My first thought was that this is step one," she said. "There is happiness for winning the tournament, but now I have been given a large responsibility, and I want to carry the weight and represent my country the best I can."

Personal: Has been accepted to Yale Law School. ... Hobbies include river rafting, conflict mediation. ... Is close with family. "Wrestling has brought my family closer together as we cry together and laugh together."

Quotable: "I was not raised as an athlete. I don't know many other Olympic athletes. In fact, the Olympics never entered my mind until I was finishing college."