SWIM RECAP DAY 5: Brousseau, McMillan impress with strong semifinal races on Monday at 2025 World University Games

A pair of Canadian women put forth strong semifinal showings on Monday night in Berlin, advancing in their respective events at the 2025 World University Games. 

USC Trojan Ashley McMillan posted the third best time among all semifinal competitors in the women’s 200m individual medley, advancing with a time of 2:13.08. She will be joined in a final on Tuesday night by Florida Gator Julie Brousseau, who advanced in the women’s 200m freestyle with a time of 1:58.99. 

McMillan was terrific in both sessions on Monday, posting the fastest time in her heat in the morning with a time of 2:14.86. The Penticton, B.C. product won her heat by over two seconds, remarkably pulling away from a strong field. She will be seeded third tomorrow night, and is in prime position to capture Canada’s first FISU medal in the pool. 

“I’m trying to move through the three races in the right way and leaving room to improve. I’m super excited for how this is setting up for tomorrow,” said McMillan. “All the girls in this field are amazing and super accomplished, so I can’t wait to get back in the pool and see what I can do.”  

Brousseau was fourth overall after winning her morning heat thanks to her qualifying time of 2:00.33. The Ottawa, Ontario native also led her semifinal heat for the first 150m, before sliding into fourth, but still advancing comfortably to Tuesday’s final. 

Also competing on Monday night, UNC graduate Patrick Hussey narrowly missed out on advancing to the men’s 100m butterfly final, placing 11th with a time of 52.43. 

Elsewhere in the pool for Canada, Ben Loewen (Toronto, Ont. / Toronto) placed 23rd in the men’s 100m butterfly (53.98), while UBC Thunderbird Emma O’Croinin placed 19th in the women’s 200m freestyle (2:02.12). 

Six Canadians will compete in Tuesday morning’s heats, before the finals get underway at 7:00 p.m. local time at Europasportpark Berlin.