One of the Olympics' greatest sports is also its most unloved

Maurice Brosnan witnessed a wrestling tournament that showcased what Games chiefs may leave behind. 

Grace Jacob Bullen of Team Norway (blue) celebrates after winning a Women's Freestyle 62kg Bronze Medal Match against Ana Paula Godinez Gonzalez of Team Canada at Champs-de-Mars Arena on Saturday. Pic: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Hold on for dear life. At the top of the hall, the statue of army general Marshal Joffre aboard his horse gestures forward with urgency. Three mats lie in front of him, the middle one occupied by two desperate wrestlers battling until they are completely spent.

With 11 seconds left, Mongolian Enkh-Amaryn Davaanasan is 5-3 down and has a grasp of Tatiana Rentería’s leg. She needs a last-gasp manoeuvre to prevail in this women’s freestyle 76kg quarter-final. It’s go-for-broke time.