Only three weeks after leading the Edina Boys’ Swim team to victory in the AA MSHSL State Championship, Edina High School senior Jiarui Xue qualified for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in the 1500 Meter Freestyle event.
While Xue didn’t qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics, the U.S. Olympic Team Swimming Trials are often described as being the most prestigious swimming event in the country. Spotting world-class swimmers like Katie Ledecky and Caeleb Dressel, Xue describes his experience at the qualifying trials as being “surreal.” “The whole place was huge. There were 20,000 people in the stands. But, I wasn’t really nervous because it was my first time. I had no expectations,” he said. “I barely qualified the for the trials. I was just happy to be there.”
Despite the large stadium size of the Olympic Trials, Xue remained unnerved by the tens of thousands of spectators there to watch. “I don’t think it affected me very much. I wasn’t really looking in the stands when I was swimming,” he said.
While being on the younger side of the athletes at the trails, Xue was surprised by the number of swimmers in his age group. “There were quite a few [swimmers] my age across the U.S., not just Minnesota. [From] Minnesota, there were probably three other guys my age,” Xue said.
Xue’s main motivation for reaching this level of distinction? “I just don’t like to lose,” Xue said.
According to Xue’s Head Coach at EHS, Scott Johnson, Xue’s extreme commitment and dedication to his sport is what got him this far. “He trains at a different level than pretty much any other high school kid I’ve ever coached [during my] 30 years,” Johnson said. “Lot of times we have to provide his own lane…because he’s so fast.”
During his club season with the Aquajets Swim Team, Xue attends two practices a day all year round—typically swimmers only attend one practice per day. “I’ve gone to two [practices] before, but it’s brutal,” senior and teammate Reid McAllister said.
This dedication has resulted in Xue being an extremely decorated athlete. He is a state champion in the 500 freestyle and will be nominated as a Class AA Boys State Athlete of the Year. For the 2025 Edina Boys’ Swim season, Xue was nominated as captain by his teammates.
In the spring of this year, Xue made a verbal commitment to Princeton University. He cited the institution’s academic prestige as a main criterion for his decision to commit to the university. “I knew that I wanted to go to a place similar to Princeton, where academics are [valued],” Xue said.
When asked if he could see a second appearance at the Olympic Trials in his future, Xue is hopeful. “I think qualifying for the trails again is definitely a possibility in four years, but making the Olympics is definitely a stretch. I won’t rule it out or anything,” Xue said.
This piece was originally published in Zephyrus’ print edition on September 26, 2024
