Success and failure at the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games proves a recurring theme, while Canberra's two rugby teams dominate the top spots.

From tennis badboy Nick Kyrgios to Australia's greatest basketballer Lauren Jackson bowing out and a favourite Brumby returning to the wild, this list has it all. Sit back and enjoy the good, bad and the ugly our sports stars have dished up in 2016.

1. Canberra Raiders best season in 20 years

Raiders fans celebrate a try. Photo: Getty

The Green Machine is back and the Canberra Raiders painted the capital lime green with their best season since 1996.

Canberra Stadium was packed out, butchers turned sausages lime green and the capital went crazy for Ricky Stuart's men as they sparked something that had been missing for 20 years.

The Raiders won a club record 10 games in a row, Joey Leilua was on fire with some superb flick passes, Jarrod Croker broke point-scoring records and the entire squad restored pride in the green jersey.

Then there was the start of what looms as a cult-following tradition - the 'Viking Clap'. The sight of 20,000 Raiders fans standing before kick-off and clapping in time will put a smile on any Canberra tragic's face during the off-season.

However, it all ended in heartbreak when they lost a preliminary final thriller to the Melbourne Storm, falling two points short of what would have been a grand final berth.

The Raiders were rated 12th in premiership betting before the season started, but by September the Green Machine were the hottest team in the league entering finals in second place after 10-game winning streak.

Canberra's attack wasn't just the best in the competition – it was arguably the best in the club's history.

The 688 points scored by the Raiders in the regular season was 104 points clear of the field and 11 more than the all-conquering 1994 Canberra side featuring names like Meninga, Daley, Walters, Mullins, Clyde, Nadruku, and Ricky Stuart.

Stuart has led the revival of the Raiders, putting together probably the most well-balanced outfit in the NRL.

While their premiership rivals relied heavily on superstars, the Raiders barely missed a beat when their breakout star of 2015, Blake Austin, was forced to the sidelines.

Captain Croker scored 18 tries and kicked 112 goals to be the league's leading point-scorer, but it was a duo on the other side of the field who dominated the headlines.

Leilua and Jordan Rapana were unstoppable with both ranking in the NRL top five for tackle breaks, with Leilua second for offloads and Rapana leading the league in line breaks.

The signs are good that a new golden era for the Green Machine is just getting started.

2. Christian Lealiifano's shock cancer diagnosis

The Brumbies will offer Lealiifano a coaching position if he is unable to play in the 2017 Super Rugby season. Photo: Brendon Thorne

The rugby world was left stunned after ACT Brumbies skipper Christian Lealiifano was diagnosed with leukaemia in August.

The star flyhalf began treatment immediately which included a bone-marrow transplant from his sister Sally and Lealiifano continues to be monitored by doctors in Melbourne.

Lealiifano won the Rugby Union Players Association medal for excellence in December, becoming the seventh Brumby to pick up the prestigious award.

"I'm truly, truly humbled and honoured to receive such an award," Lealiifano said.

"Congratulations to all of the other nominees; I feel like this is probably an award for all of us and the great work we do in the community to grow the game around the country."

Lealiifano, 29, missed just five minutes of the Brumbies' Super Rugby campaign this year, leading the team into the finals for a third consecutive season.

However, it's unlikely he will be able to play next season and he is instead set to take on a coaching role as he continues his recovery.

3. Michael Jones breaks ranks and blows whistle on Brumbies

The ACT Brumbies board get locked in a bitter stoush with former chief executive Michael Jones, who raised serious questions about a land deal involving its former Griffith headquarters and a new site at the University of Canberra.

Jones was stood down by the board and used the Territory's whistleblower protection laws to allege he had been unfairly treated after disclosing serious irregularities with the deal, taking the club and others to the ACT Supreme Court, a case that has since been settled.

A KPMG report at the centre of that case - said to detail concerns about the land swap deal - remains suppressed by the ACT Supreme Court.

Tensions were added to the saga with concerns surrounding the future of two of the club's major sponsors.

There was a significant breakdown in relations with the University of Canberra, a sponsor and partner, and the club feared that its major sponsor Aquis may back out of an $8 million sponsorship deal if the casino didn't get the go-ahead for pokie machines.

Both parties have since recommitted to the club for next season.

4. Nick Kyrgios at his devastating best and worst

Nick Kyrgios was been banned and received an extra fine. Photo: AP

Canberra's tennis superstar Nick Kyrgios had his most explosive season yet, both on and off the court.

The polarising figure rose to a career-high 13th in the world and earned more singles titles (three) than any Australian since Lleyton Hewitt in 2004.

However, Kyrgios' season came to a dramatic end in Shanghai when the world's most talked about player went into complete meltdown.

Kyrgios was found guilty of a blatant tank job against Mischa Zverev which saw him banned for eight tournament weeks by the ATP and fined $54,000.

The 21-year-old became the first player suspended for behavioural issues since notorious American badboy John McEnroe.

Kyrgios later apologised and agreed a psychological counselling provision which reduced his penalty to three weeks.

"The season has been a long one as I battled several injuries and other challenges towards the end of the summer. The Asian circuit was particularly tough after the long week and win in Tokyo and with the travel throughout the continent, my body finally just gave out in Shanghai both physically and mentally," he said.

"I regret that my year is ending this way... I will use this time off to improve on and off the court. I am truly sorry and look forward to returning in 2017."

5. Brumby Pocock takes year away from rugby

ACT Brumbies superstar David Pocock announces he will take a sabbatical from rugby union in 2017.

Pocock reunited with former Wallabies coach Robbie Deans after signing a flexible multi-year deal with Japaense club Panasonic Wild Knights with his first stint at the club concluding in January.

There was speculation that he would sign a lucrative contract in Europe, but Pocock opted for a relationship closer to home in a move he hopes will have him rugby fit for his Brumbies comeback in 2018.

"Talking to guys over there, the club culture seems really good and I'm looking forward to that. One of the other appealing things to me is that the Wild Knights are based in Ota, which isn't a huge city," Pocock said.

"I'm not a big lover of cities, so it's good to be there. I'm not sure what I'll do with my time away from rugby, hopefully a bit of everything."

The world's best flanker is expected to travel while basing himself out of Southern Africa.

"I'll have a good break and hopefully arrive back in Canberra in February 2017 in really good shape after experiencing a different style of rugby in Japan," he said.

Pocock played his 11th season of Super Rugby this year but knee reconstructions in 2013 and 2014 took a mental toll on the 28-year-old.

6. Kim Brennan's golden moment in Rio warms Aussie hearts

Kim Brennan carried the Australian flag at the closing ceremony in Rio. Photo: Michael Dodge

Canberra rower Kim Brennan breaks through for a historic Olympic Gold in Brazil after taking top honours in the single sculls.

Brennan was recognised as the top female performer in Australian sport winning the AIS female athlete of the year as well as being a finalist for the sports personality of the year and the best sporting moment.

Brennan's beaming smile lit up Australia when she stormed to victory in Rio, marking Australia's first gold medal in rowing since 2008.

She carried the flag into the closing ceremony and has taken a break from elite racing to allow her achievements to set in.

Brennan was also named the ACT female athlete of the year and is "refocusing" before deciding on her career future.

"There's no elite sport on the horizon for me at the moment," Brennan said.

"I still love racing for my club and I still love being involved, whether that desire to compete at the top level will come back or not I don't know but for now I'm really happy to have more time at home with my husband and to contribute to sport in a different way."

7. Cricket Australia announce Test cricket in Canberra, before snubbing the capital

Cricket Australia announce Canberra will host its first-ever Test match, to be played at Manuka Oval during the 2018–19 summer against Sri Lanka.

Canberra has hosted eight one-day internationals and will become the 10th Australian venue to host Test cricket.

Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said the announcement recognised the "continued growth of the sport not only in the ACT but the wider region".

However, excitement in the capital was short-lived with fans left infuriated after CA left Canberra out of its schedule for next summer.

The move broke a lucrative four-year deal to have Australia play at Manuka Oval every year until 2019.

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr is set to meet with Sutherland renegotiate the terms and try to secure Test cricket at Manuka Oval every four years.

8. Anna Flanagan pays heavy price for secret boozy night and misses Rio Olympics

Anna Flanagan will step away from hockey after being stood down by the Hockeyroos for breaching team protocol. Photo: Getty Images

Hockeyroos star Anna Flanagan is sensationally left out of the Olympic team after a drink-driving controversy.

The Australian Olympic Committee asked the defender for a "please explain" after the 24-year-old Canberran kept a drink-driving charge secret from Hockey Australia.

Flanagan lost her licence for 10 months and was also fined $1000 for an incident in Perth in March.

However, HA only found out about the incident in May and immediately dropped Flanagan for two vital lead-up tournaments to the Rio de Janeiro Games in August.

"I deeply regret my actions. Drink-driving is irresponsible and I deeply regret my decision to drive after drinking," Flanagan said.

"I wish to apologise to my family and friends, my Hockeyroos teammates and coaches, Hockey Australia and to all of those people who have supported me, and continue to do so.

"I realise that my actions were not in keeping with those expected of someone in my position. I accept that my actions have consequences and I will work hard to make it up to those that I have let down."

9. Basketball great Lauren Jackson retires 

Lauren Jackson retired from basketball in 2016. Photo: Jamila Toderas

Australian basketball superstar Lauren Jackson announces her retirement after recurring knee injuries ended any hopes of an Olympic Games swansong.

The 2001 American WNBA number one draft pick won three Olympic silver medals (2000, 2004, 2008) and one bronze (2012) with the Opals.

The 35-year-old was named the Most Valuable Player the WNBL's Canberra Capitals four times and the Seattle Storm MVP on three occasions.

Jackson made the announcement at the AIS in Canberra where her career began almost 20 years ago.

"It really is so surreal retiring here where it all began 19 years ago," Jackson said.

"Today I'm announcing my retirement from the love of my life, basketball. It took me all over the world, gave me friendships forever so thank you to everyone for being here."

It signalled the end of an era for the Opals after relying on Jackson to take the reins since she made her debut when she was just 16 years old.

Rio marked the Opals first Games without Jackson since the Atlanta Olympics in 1996 and they were knocked out by Serbia in the quarter-finals.

10. Canberra Olympic's dream FFA Cup run

Canberra Olympic was the only second tier club to barge its way into the FFA Cup final four as they faced A-League heavyweights Sydney FC for a place in the final.

Deakin Stadium victories against Surfers Paradise Apollo (round of 32), Redlands United (round of 16) and a gutsy final-play win in extra time over Melbourne's Green Gully booked Olympic a semi-final date with Sydney at Viking Park.

Olympic did not concede a goal before falling 3-0 against Sydney in what marked the club's biggest match in its 60-year history.

Proud Olympic coach Frank Cachia said nothing he had ever experienced had come close to his team's home semi-final, where 5000 people watched a determined display and several fine saves from captain and goalkeeper Angelo Konstantinou.

"We didn't want to just defend, we knew that would just lead to disaster," Cachia said.

"We put our best foot forward, but you can only play as well as the opposition allows you and they're an outstanding outfit."

Special mentions:

Mathew Hayman – The 38-year-old champion cyclist won the legendary Paris-Roubaix one day classic in his 15th start, becoming only the second Australian to claim the title.

Michael Matthews - The Canberran cyclist turned the page on years of bad luck by winning the 10th stage of the Tour de France to complete his set of of grand tour victories.

Carrie Graf and Jess Bibby – The Canberra Capitals veterans ended their careers on a high with a victory against Bendigo Spirit. Graf first coached Bibby when she was just 10 and 26 years later the duo were still working together as 10 years in the ACT came to end. Bibby ended her career as the WNBL games record holder with 394 appearances.