During Nationals I poked around a bit and tried to find elite-level swimmers who were on Twitter, and came up with the list below. It's been interesting to read their comments about races (sometimes posted minutes after finishing) and get some insight into their experiences (e.g., reading Dara Torres' accounts of the "rookie skits" in Rome that poked fun at her, or reading complaints about the packed warm up pool). The swimmers have their share of inane posts, but on balance I've found it pretty interesting and fun to read what they have to say.
Going into Worlds, I'm wondering who is missing from this list. There are no foreign swimmers here, for one thing, and I suspect some US swimmers who are on Twitter are missing from the list.
Anyone have any additions?
(List includes folks who swam at Nationals plus a few other well-known swimming community people)
Nick Brunelli twitter.com/NickBrunelli
Natalie Coughlin twitter.com/NatalieCoughlin
Rowdy Gaines http://twitter.com/RowdyGaines
Keri Hehn http://twitter.com/khehn13
Katie Hoff http://twitter.com/khoff09
Cullen Jones http://twitter.com/Jones41
Ryan Lochte http://twitter.com/ryanlochte
Michael Phelps twitter.com/Michael_Phelps
Eric Shanteau http://twitter.com/Shanteau
Rebecca Soni http://twitter.com/rebsoni
Mel Stewart twitter.com/goldmedalmel
Dara Torres twitter.com/daratorresswims
Garrett Weber-Gale http://twitter.com/G_WeberGale
For some reason, Phelps doesn't use his account anymore. Last update I saw from him was April or May... he deleted all his updates, too.
I've been following Dara Torres, GWG, Lochte, and Cullen Jones since Indy.
I have been following several of these swimmers for awhile. Their insights and comments are fabulous. You feel like you're on the deck with them and get a little glimpse of their amazing experiences.
Interesting that Piersol uses the Selective Twitter Status app on Facebook (hence all of the #fb tags). Also interesting how just about all of the elite swimmers are glad that tech suits have finally been banned.
One more: Amanda Beard twitter.com/AmandaRayBeard
I used to be in Amanda Beard's Facebook Friend list. One day she removed me or maybe she shut down her account in general. A friend of mine was in her list too but was also kicked out(or removed).
