Caitlyn Jenner broke Twitter record to draw 1 million followers in 4 hours

The former Olympic decathlon gold medalist Caitlyn Jenner (picture), who recently completed male-to-female transition, has set Twitter world record to reach one million followers in just four hours after she opened her account, according to the U.K. daily Guardian and other foreign press.

Jenner has become the fastest person to reach the milestone of 1 million followers, which took four hours after account creation, usurping U.S. President Barack Obama who took five hours. This gives a glimpse of popularity that she enjoys on line.

“I’m so happy after such a long struggle to be living my true self. Welcome to the world Caitlyn. Can’t wait for you to get to know her/me,” said the 66-year-old former track and field athlete in her first tweet.

Previously known as Bruce Jenner, she won the gold medal in the men’s decathlon event at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal as a member of the U.S. national team. Jenner was inducted into the U.S. National Track and Field Hall of Fame and the Olympic Hall of Fame, having enjoyed much popularity and glory as an athlete.

Jenner, who had dealt with gender dysphoria since 1980s, has received hormone replacement therapy over several decades and underwent surgical transition including nose reduction surgery and hair removal. In April this year, she made public her gender transition surgery in a tell-all interview to ABC.

dew@donga.com