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Rochester swimmers put high school rivalries aside as they compete among the state’s best

By Sean Baker, The Minnesota Star Tribune, 10/18/24, 8:00AM CDT

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Fueled by equal parts competition and friendship, Sophie Blixt, Madeline Gau and Julia Ogren have become three of the top high school swimmers in the state.

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Three driven swimmers and 11th graders at three different Rochester high schools — Sophie Blixt, left, of Rochester Century, Julia Ogren, of Rochester John Marshall and Madeline Gau, of Rochester Mayo — were photographed at the Rochester Recreation Center

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ROCHESTER – It would be easy for Sophie Blixt, Madeline Gau and Julia Ogren to get caught up in an intra-city rivalry. After all, they suit up for three different high schools only minutes apart. The juniors are also considered to be some of Minnesota’s individual championship favorites heading into next month’s high school state tournament.

But for Blixt, Gau and Ogren, any competition they have with each other is superseded by a tight-knit bond forged by spending countless hours in the same pool during the offseason. The time spent training together has translated into a support system that has propelled the three swimmers to the top of their sport.

“People call us crosstown rivals,” Blixt said. “I don’t believe in that. We support each other no matter what.”

For more on Blixt, Gau and Ogren, click here to read this story on startribune.com.

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