2016: The sports stars who were famous for 15 minutes – in pictures

Marcus Willis

Andy Murray wasn't the only British tennis player to make a splash at Wimbledon this year. World number 772 Marcus Willis also found himself in the spotlight when he took on Roger Federer on Centre Court. The 25-year-old, who almost quit the sport at the start of the year, negotiated seven qualifying rounds to make the main draw and the beat world number 54 Ricardis Berankis in his first match. Sadly, Federer proved too good for Willis, who was afforded a standing ovation after his 6-0, 6-3, 6-4 defeat. Not bad for a player with the nickname Cartman.

Iceland's Euro 2016 side

The tale of how Iceland humiliated England at Euro 2016 will live long in the annals of football history. And the team's progression to the quarter-finals of the tournament was one of 2016's feel-good stories. But it was the sight of the shell-shocked England players sprawled out on the turf and the Icelandic fans' celebration that people will remember. Iceland are a team without big-name football stars (with the possible exception of Gylfi Sigurdsson, who plays for Swansea City) and they will do well to repeat the feats of 2016 if they qualify for the 2018 World Cup. At the moment, that looks tricky.

Pita Taufatofua

The history books will record that Tongan taekwondo competitor Pita Taufatofua lost his one and only bout at the Rio Olympics by a score of 16-1. However, Taufatofua will be remembered for more than that after he stole the show at the Olympics opening ceremony with the help of a traditional 'ta’ovala' (Tongan mat) worn round his waist and some baby oil. His topless appearance, leading the Tongan team into the arena, caused a sensation on social media. He may try and repeat the trick at the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang if he succeeds in his ambition of becoming Tonga's first male cross-country skier.

Joe Clarke

Joe Clarke's moment of fame came early at the Rio Olympics when he won Team GB's second gold of the Games in the men's kayak K-1 event. Having never won a major gold before, the 23-year-old wasn't considered a favourite for the event. Indeed, his only medals at major events prior to Rio had been two silvers and two bronzes in the K-1 team event at the European and World Championships. And even if he goes on to dominate the canoeing world, he is unlikely to be back in the public eye before the 2020 Games in Tokyo.

Daniel Goodfellow

The diver partnered Tom Daley to bronze medal position in the 10m synchronised platform event at the Rio Olympics, not that you would have known this the following day. Goodfellow became a cause celebre when his mother reacted angrily to the decision of many papers to carry front-page pictures of Daley on his own. The hashtag "#Where's Dan Goodfellow?” even began trending on Twitter. But at least he had his moment in the sun. Can you name the two Team GB divers who did win gold? They were Jack Laugher and Chris Mears in the 3m synchronised springboard event.

James Vince

Cricket spent much of 2016 in the shadows thanks to Euro 2016 and the Olympics. And unfortunately James Vince's Test career looks destined to be bookended by both events. The Hampshire batsman was drafted into the Test team at the start of the summer against Sri Lanka and drafted out of it again in August after the fourth Test against Pakistan, with an average of less than 20. The emergence of younger players including Haseeb Hameed and Keaton Jennings suggest Vince's time has come and gone.

Fu Yuanhui

Chinese swimmer Fu Yuanhui found herself in the spotlight at Rio thanks to her endearing charm and frankness in talking about a taboo subject. First she warmed hearts with her shocked reaction when she discovered her times in her semi-final heat and her sudden realisation she had won a bronze medal halfway through a "defeat speech" on Chinese TV. A week later she was back in the headlines when she revealed that she had swum badly in the 4x100m medley relay because she was suffering from period pain – an issue that's rarely discussed in women's sport.

Will Bayley

It is a sad fact that disability sport does not have a very high profile, and it is also true that table tennis rarely makes the headlines. However, Paralympian Will Bayley made his mark when he won gold at Rio and embarked on an epic celebration that included jumping on to the table and risking disqualification by hugging a referee when she showed him a yellow card.