Michael Andrew, Grant House, Taylor Ruck Capture Wins At Copa Internacional

2025 COPA INTERNACIONAL

• Friday, February 21st – Sunday, February 23rd
• Veracruz, Mexico
• LCM (50m)
• SwimSwam Preview
• Results: Meet Mobile – 2a Coupa Internacional Veracruz

The 2025 Copa Internacional concluded last night from Veracruz, Mexico with several notable Americans and Canadians taking to the long course pool. On the whole, the performances were well off the elite stars’ bests, indicating this was seen as an in-season training exercise and early 2025 tune-up rather than an intense competition.

25-year-old Michael Andrew was among the competitors with the Olympian putting his relatively new training home of Tempe, Arizona to the test.

In this early in-season competition, Andrew topped the men’s 100m breast podium in a modest 1:03.66 and doubled up with the top spot in the 50m back in 25.97.

Andrew also raced the 100m back where he logged 59.13 for bronze as well as the 50m breast where he struck gold in 27.96.

As an exhibition swimmer in the 50m free, Andrew punched a result of 23.93 as the 3rd-quickest competitor behind Santiago Blanco of Mexico and fellow American Grant House.

Blanco beat the field with a time of 23.48 while 26-year-old House was a hair behind in 23.59.

On the women’s side, 27-year-old Sydney Pickrem of Canada made her presence known, capturing victories in both the 50m breast (32.55) and 100m breast (1:11.48).

Racing against her countrywoman Taylor Ruck, Pickrem settled for runner-up in the 50m free in 26.59 to Ruck’s slightly quicker 26.50.

Ruck also got it done for gold in the 50m back (29.77), 100m back (1:04.41) and 50m fly (27.40).

 KeyResults – Fastest Times per Swimmer

• Michael Andrew (USA) – 50m free (23.51), 50m back (25.97), 100m back (59.13), 50m breast (27.96), 100m breast (1:03.66), 100m fly (54.44)
• Chase Kalisz (USA) – 100m breast (1:04.63), 100m fly (54.97), 200m fly (2:00.03)
• Jack Dolan (USA) – 50m free (23.12), 100m free (51.06), 50m back (26.50), 100m back (56.70)
• Grant House (USA) – 50m free (23.59), 100m free (49.81), 200m free (1:53.42), 50m back (27.28), 50m fly (24.58), 100m fly (57.24)
• Jack Dahlgren (USA) – 100m free (51.45), 200m free (1:51.03), 100m fly (54.37), 200m fly (2:00.82)
• Leonardo De Deus (BRA) – 50m back (27.22), 100m back (58.82), 100m fly (56.90)
• Sydney Pickrem (CAN) – 50m free (26.43), 50m breast (32.55),  100m breast (1:11.48)
• Taylor Ruck (CAN) – 50m free (26.22), 100m free (56.43), 50m back (29.70), 100m back (1:04.41), 50m fly (27.40)
• Penny Oleksiak (CAN) – was entered but wound up not swimming