AFP Sport presents some of the most memorable tweets of 2012:

His first pic! #excited #cute

- Barcelona footballer Gerard Pique tweeting an ultrasound image of the baby that he and Colombian pop queen Shakira are expecting.

@3gerardpique

Gil Hanse is a (expletive). Haha.

- Golfer Luke Donald had to apologise to Boston course architect Gil Hanse for his rant which ended up on Twitter despite the English player believing he had only sent a direct message.

@LukeDonald

I hear you fella! Choc ice is classic! hahahahahahha!!

- Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand was fined for appearing to endorse the phrase aimed at Ashley Cole in the John Terry affair. "Choc Ice" is understood to mean someone who is black on the outside but white on the inside.

@rioferdy5

Loving the lights on the stumps and bails at the BBL. Remind me of a pair of trainers I had as a kid.

- Cricketer Eoin Morgan enjoys the innovations of the Big Bash Cricket League.

@Eoin16

This is the hardest pounding the Swiss have taken since the British artillery pounded them to dust at Minden in 1759.

- TV history presenter Dan Snow after Andy Murray's capture of the first set of the Wimbledon final against Roger Federer.

@thehistoryguy

Roger uv got the moves like jagger

- India cricketer Yuvraj Singh after Federer's victory

@yuvstrong12

The only thing I can think of when I watch Ronaldo is that hair gel should really be outlawed

- Model Bar Refaili takes aim at Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo's image

@BarRefaili

Being a hater is not a cute look. Learn to love.

- Ronaldo's model girlfriend Irina Shayk stands by her man

@theirishayk

Journey a nightmare. People are ignorant. Place stinks. Arena's rubbish, tables poor, food is horrendous. Other than that I love China.

- Northern Ireland snooker player Mark Allen not impressed by a visit to China

@pistol147

Might've been a bit harsh a few hours ago in my tweet. Not all Chinese people are ignorant. I stand by everything else though.

- Allen later eases back on his remarks

@pistol147

AND THE BEST OF THE OLYMPICS...

Thanks to all my real fans and people who believe in me. I am now a living legend that's for sure.

- Usain Bolt after becoming the first man to defend the 100m and 200m Olympic titles

@usainbolt

I'm going to wait for Tom Daley in the little pool he goes in after he dives and cuddle him too hard.

- TV comic and actor Russell Brand

@rustyrockets

Moooooooooooooo Mooooooooooooo Moooooooooooo #BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM

- Cricketer Kevin Pietersen on Mo Farah's 5000-10000m double

@kevinpp24

Stressed.5am no sleep post race. Almost went @britneyspears on ya & shave my head til I read ur tweets. Thx 4 lifting me up during this time

- American hurdler Lolo Jones feels low after she finishes a disappointing fourth in the 100m hurdles

@lolojones

"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened." - Dr. Seuss

- Michael Phelps retweets after ending his career with a 22nd Olympic medal

@MichaelPhelps

Well what a day, blind drunk at the minute and overwhelmed with all the messages, Thank You everyone it's been emotional X

- Britain's cycling time trial gold medallist Bradley Wiggins tweets a picture of him celebrating overlooking St. Paul's Cathedral

@bradwiggins

just chatting with @lequipe journalist and he quips. 'you got the Games, we're getting the medals' Have to admit quite amusing!!

- Former British star triple jumper Jonathan Edwards

@JDE66

Where did it all go wrong? They say it's the organisers fault, but I blame myself.

- The voice of a disgruntled fan who has set up a spoof Twitter account, adopting the voice of one of the unoccupied seats at the Olympics.

@OlympicSeat

In short. It took me over 4hrs this morning to get inside the village. I was freezing my nuts off. I'm a tropical animal.

- Sprinter Kim Collins' day goes from bad to worse

@kimcollins100m

My sister just rang me: "Katie, where r u?" "Switzerland" "Oh. The cycling road race is about to go past your flat. Guess you won't see it!"

- British tennis player O'Brien

@katiejobrien

"Of course I'll RT the photo. my legs look amazing."

- US hurdler Lolo Jones

@lolojones