We certainly expected a lot of gold, silver and bronze in the pool in Rio. But green?
As the curtain falls on the Olympics, we take a look at some of the most surprising moments of the 2016 Games, from the disconcerting discolouration of the diving and water polo pools, to a pair of angry Mongolian wrestling coaches getting naked, to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's guest appearance dressed as Nintendo's Mario. Really.
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Rio 2016: Olympic action highlights
After following nearly three weeks of Olympic action, Fairfax reporters share their own favourite moments from Rio de Janeiro.
1. The green pool
The ever-changing colour of the water polo and diving pools became an endless source of amusement and frustration in the first week of the Games.
German diver Stephan Feck was less than impressed at the situation, saying on social media that the whole venue smelled like a fart.
"Of course, it is an embarrassment," Rio 2016 spokesman Mario Andrada said. "We are hosting the Olympic Games and hosting the world's best athletes. The water is not supposed to be an issue."
It was later revealed that 80 litres of hydrogen-peroxide was put in the pool on the day of the opening ceremony, which reacted with the chlorine and changed the water's colour. Oops.
![On Tuesday (Rio time) the blue of the water polo pool contrasted markedly with the green of the diving pool.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160822083925im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/o/v/4/5/image.imgtype.articleLeadwide.620x349.png/1470868920185.png)
On Tuesday (Rio time) the blue of the water polo pool contrasted markedly with the green of the diving pool. Photo: Joe Armao
2. Chinese swimmer wins bronze, and China's hearts
Fu Yuanhui clinched a bronze medal at the Rio Olympics, but has struck solid gold with millions of new fans across her home country.
The 20-year-old's lively post-race interviews and facial expressions turned her into an online sensation. In one interview, she had to be told by the reporter that she had won a medal.
"Whoa, I was so fast!" she responded. "I'm very, very satisfied with my result!"
Fu also said she'd used up all her "mystical powers" to achieve results in the pool, but suggested that her arms were "too short".
Following a mediocre performance in the women's medley relay, she explained: "It's because my period came yesterday, so I felt particularly tired."
![Chinese swimmer Fu Yuanhui being interviewed at the Rio Olympics.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160822083925im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/p/s/y/f/image.imgtype.articleLeadwide.620x349.png/1471452271740.png)
Chinese swimmer Fu Yuanhui being interviewed at the Rio Olympics. Photo: CCTV
3. Judoka cries behind bins
British judo champion Ashley McKenzie wanted his fans to see the raw moment his Olympic dream came to an end. He shared a photograph on his social media accounts that showed him crouched on the floor beside a bin in the back corridors of the arena, weeping.
Minutes earlier, world champion Yeldos Smetov had defeated McKenzie in the men's under-60 kilogram category by a single point. The 27-year-old Londoner had suffered a similar early exit at his home Games in 2012.
"I don't think I need to say much more about how I feel, thank you all for the support," he wrote on Instagram.
Thank you all for your support.. My journey has been tough but you've all helped! Thank You pic.twitter.com/if0gGoeHKv
— Ashley McKenzie (@Ashleymckenzi12) August 6, 2016
4. Mongolian wrestling coaches strip off
Few would have predicted how this wrestling bout would end: with two burly Mongolian coaches removing their clothing in a remarkable protest against the judges' decision.
Mongolian wrestler Mandakhnaran Ganzorig had missed out on a bronze medal on the final day of competition at the Rio Olympics after he was penalised for refusing to engage with his opponent.
Intent on making their displeasure known in a very eye-catching way, the coaches started stripping off their clothes.
With the crowd erupting and chanting "Mongolia! Mongolia!", one of the coaches then took off his track pants and remonstrated with the judges wearing nothing but a pair of trunks.
![Mongolia's coaches protest the judges decision.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160822083925im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/x/u/9/s/image.imgtype.articleLeadwide.620x349.png/1471812325753.png)
Mongolia's coaches protest against the judges' decision. Photo: Getty Images
5. Twins finish marathon holding hands
German twins and training partners Anna and Lisa Hahner ran over the finishing line of the women's marathon in Rio holding hands and smiling.
But it was not a heart-warming moment for German athletics officials, who were furious with the sisters' approach to the race.
"It looked as though they completed a fun run and not [an] Olympic [race]," said Thomas Kurschilgen, the sports director of the German Athletics Federation.
"The Hahner twins, Lisa and Anna, ended their Olympic marathon race more than 21 minutes behind the winner, more than 15 minutes on their best performance, 81 and 82 (positions).
"Their main aim was to generate media attention. That is what we criticise."
![Anna Hahner and her sister Lisa Hahner hold hands at they approach the finish line during the Women's Marathon.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160822083925im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/u/h/6/h/image.imgtype.articleLeadwide.620x349.png/1471438062082.png)
Sisters Anna and Lisa Hahner hold hands at they approach the finish line. Photo: Getty Images
6. Australia win gold in modern pentathlon
This was a delightful surprise. Australia woke on Saturday morning to find 24-year-old Chloe Esposito had won the gold medal in the women's modern pentathlon, Australia's first ever medal in the sport.
Esposito blitzed the field by 16 seconds in the run and shoot finale at Deodoro Stadium. She had started the last leg of the classic Olympic sport in seventh place overall, but managed to reel in rival after rival.
"I can't describe it. It's just the best feeling ever. All my hard work has finally paid off," a shocked and delighted Esposito said afterwards.
![Chloe Esposito wins gold in the women's modern pentathlon.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160822083925im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/x/6/f/w/image.imgtype.articleLeadwide.620x349.png/1471661258041.png)
Chloe Esposito wins gold in the women's modern pentathlon. Photo: Sam Greenwood
7. Phelps shares silver in triple-dead heat
The dais was decidedly lopsided at the medal presentation for the men's 100m butterfly in Rio.
Remarkably, three swimmers had tied for second place. Perhaps just as surprisingly was that US swimmer Michael Phelps wasn't clutching the gold.
Singapore's Joseph Schooling denied Phelps a fourth successive gold in the event to win in a Games record of 50.39 seconds.
Phelps finished second in a three-way dead heat with two of his greatest rivals: South Africa's Chad Le Clos and Hungary's Laszlo Cseh.
Schooling was aged 13 when he was photographed meeting his idol Phelps, and that photo was shared widely on social media following the race in Rio.
![Phelps shared the silver medal with Laszlo Cseh and Chad le Clos.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160822083925im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/r/q/q/0/image.imgtype.articleLeadwide.620x349.png/1471124822284.png)
Phelps shared the silver medal with Chad le Clos and Laszlo Cseh. Photo: Getty Images
8. Shinzo Abe dressed as Mario
We can't imagine Malcolm Turnbull pulling this stunt.
In one of the weirdest moments of the Games, Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe popped out of a green pipe dressed as Nintendo's Mario at the closing ceremony of the Rio Olympics.
With Tokyo due to host the next Olympics spectacle, in 2020, it's customary for the upcoming country to do a little teaser to their Games.
Mr Abe didn't disappoint, appearing as the mustachioed Italian plumber and sending social media into a spin.
![Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe appeared as Nintendo's Mario during the Rio Olympics closing ceremony.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160822083925im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/y/1/j/0/image.imgtype.articleLeadwide.620x349.png/1471831264504.png)
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe appeared as Nintendo's Mario. Photo: Matt Dunham
9. US in solo women's relay heat
The US women's 4x100m relay team were guaranteed to win their heat. They were the only ones in it.
Earlier in the day, a rival runner had bumped into US star Allyson Felix at the second changeover in the original heat, causing her to drop the baton.
The defending Olympic champions immediately appealed, leading to the unusual solo heat later that night.
Team USA went on to qualify fastest for the final, a race they eventually won.
![English Gardner and Allyson Felix, right, drop the baton the first time around.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160822083925im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/w/7/f/u/image.imgtype.articleLeadwide.620x349.png/1471629321818.png)
English Gardner and Allyson Felix, right, drop the baton the first time around. Photo: AP
10. Gymnast snaps leg on vault
French gymnast Samir Ait Said must have been a little surprised - and in considerable pain - when his vault landing didn't go exactly as planned in the men's individual all-round event.
The 26-year-old took off on the vault, performed a double backflip and landed on his leg, which snapped beneath his weight during the first day of competition. The ambulance crew then dropped him while attempting to load him into an ambulance.
Ait Said later posted a Facebook video from his hospital bed thanking people for the outpouring of support, and vowing to return to the sport.
![Samir Ait Said has undergone surgery to repair the bad break.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160822083925im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/m/q/i/r/image.imgtype.articleLeadwide.620x349.png/1470614316548.png)
Samir Ait Said had surgery to repair the bad break. Photo: Getty Images