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Sochi Winter Olympics: 5 California Olympians you should follow on Instagram and Twitter
"Tucked in tude" reads the caption of Olympic Luger Kate Hansen's Instragam photo.
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k8ertotz/Instagram
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Forget the political controversy, technical glitches and subpar accommodations — Our Southern California athletes are having a blast in Sochi for the 2014 Olympics. How do we know? Because they're flooding social media with goofy pics and enthusiastic updates. Here are some of the best:
1. LUGER KATE HANSEN
A member of the U.S. Olympic luge team, Hansen was born in Burbank but lives in La Cañada — and her goofy girl pics are sure to entertain. "I know all of Beyonce's choreo by heart and I wear spandex for a living," reads her Twitter profile. The 21-year-old's list of "best ever results" include a World Cup gold medal in Sigulda, Latvia and a World Cup fourth place in Park City, Utah.
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2. PILOT BOBSLEDDER CORY BUTNER
Not only is Butner one bad bobsledder, but he's also a jolly and patriotic fashionista. He shared the above photo of his opening and closing ceremony outfits on Facebook one week before the event even began. Ranked fifth in the world, Butner has two silver World Cup medals. He's a native of Yucaipa, California and graduated from UC Riverside in 2005. Watch him kick butt at Lake Placid here.
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3. FREESKIER BRITA SIGOURNEY
From Brita Sigourney's Twitter:
What's not to like about a skilled skier who "enjoys naps and cats and cats who nap"? Originally from Carmel, California, Sigourney attended UC Davis for three years before joining the U.S. Freeskiing team. Her Twitter is filled with adventures from Sochi — mostly of her mingling with other Olympians. But if her Instagram is any indication of posts to come, we can expect a handful of rad action shots.
LINK: Brita Sigourney's Instagram
LINK: Brita Sigourney's Twitter
4. FREESKIER TRAVIS GANONG
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From Travis Ganong's Instagram:
Is that stash real? We're not sure but we do know that Ganong has a solid sense of humor, and we can't wait to see what else he's got in store. Having launched his World Cup career in 2010, this is the freeskier's first Olympic run. Born and raised in Tahoe, California, Gagong's hometown friends sent him off with a sweet surprise.
LINK: Travis Ganong's Instagram
5. SNOWBOARDER SHAUN WHITE
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Our list wouldn't be complete without the great Shaun White. The envy of men and women alike, White is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and holds the X Games record for gold medals. On Twitter and Instagram, he's the king of clever hashtags and candid shots.
For more, subscribe to this Twitter list of California Olympians curated by KPCC media partner NBC L.A.
Which Olympians are you following on social media? Share your suggestions on Facebook, Twitter or in the comments below.
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