NY's Times Square hosts spectacular wrestling event for Olympic spot

London, June 10 (ANI): New York got a taste of the Olympic fever after Times Square staged a spectacular freestyle wrestling event to decide who would take the final place in the US team.

Thousands of New Yorkers enjoyed the action from ringside or looked down from their office buildings, as competitors from across the country put on the show.

It was 26-year-old Coleman Scott who took that final Olympic spot battling his way through six gruelling matches over the space of just seven hours, the Daily Mail reported.

Scott, who has dreamed of wrestling for the US team for 20 years, fought through the pain barrier after popping a rib before his first match.

He secured his spot by defeating the favourite Shawn Bunch 2-1 in a best of three challenge.

The match went right to the wire with Scott securing his spot on the team with a five-point throw that required an official review.

"This is the best feeling ever. What a great night," he told the New York Daily News.

"You couldn't ask for a better place-the best city in the world, and I guess now it's a little better," he said.

Scott brought an impressive cheering section of around 60 friends and family from his hometown of Waynesburg, Pennsylvania.

The terrific final match-up saw Bunch refusing to give up as he charged again and again forcing Scott to play a counter-attacking game.

Scott took the first match, slipping under one of Bunch's charges and forcing him to the ground. But Bunch fought back to take the second round by blasting Scott out of the ring with another bull-like charge.

In the final round, Scott's brilliant 5-point throw earned him a seat on the flight to London.

"I envisioned earlier in the day about ending my deal on a five-point throw.

"I did what I could. I'll let this thing heal up, and I'm going to go win gold in London," he added. (ANI)