At seventeen, Sundstrom made his first Australian Open Race Walking team alongside some of the greats of the sport: Nathan Deakes, Luke Adams; and Nick A'Hearn. That year he finished a credible 59th (3rd Australian) in one the toughest races on the World Race Walking calendar, the World Cup 20km event. One of Australia's most promising junior walkers, Sundstrom has battled with minor injury's and hamstring problems for the past five years during which time he thought he would never compete in an Australian uniform again.