One of many best tales in 2025 is Donavan Brazier.
Donavan Brazier is the 2019 World Champion on the 800 meters. And in 2025, Donavan Brazier received the US Champs in one of many best competitions between People in my reminiscence (I used to be there in 1984 in LA for the Trials, child, that was a race too!). Right here is the story:
His journey since 2020 has had many ups and downs. His PB was set in Doha, Qatar on the World Champs. That race was sensible. I used to be excessive up within the stadium and watched Donavan’s transfer at 500 meters was unequalled. Donavan Brazier ran 1:42.34, breaking the 34 year-old American report of 1:42.60 set by Johnny Grey. Donavan Brazier was on hearth! In 2019, USA Observe & Discipline received the very best accolade for a male athlete, Jesse Owens award.
Donavan was one in all my first pandemic interviews, #SocialingtheDistance. Please verify this one out, as Donavan speaks about coaching with Craig Engels, and dwelling the life in COVID : https://www.runblogrun.com/2020/07/socialing-the-distance-featuring-donavan-brazie0-full-interview.html?swcfpc=1. It is sort of a time capsule of a wierd and scary time. It jogs my memory of the e book, The Decameron, about life throughout the Plague.
In 2022, on the Eugene World champs, Donavan Brazier, quick on health and injured, didn’t make it out of the heats, in 1:46.72, not giving him an opportunity to defend his title from 2019.
Donavan Brazier had a number of robust years, together with two, 2023 and 2024, the place he didn’t race. The next interview was carried out within the Spring of 2023, in Las Vegas, as Donavan was recovering from surgical procedure. He would have two years like this, accidents, no racing, ache, self doubt. Donavan famous, within the blended zone, that he wouldn’t have made it with out his household, pals, group and coaches.
Take pleasure in this interview, once more a time capsule;
Donavan Brazier returned to racing in June 2025, with a 1:44.70 on June 7, on the TOAD Fest in Nashville, Tennessee. On June 16, 2025, Donavan received the 800m on the iconic Portland Observe Fest in 1:43.80! On July 16, 2025, Donavan Brazier visited London DL to complete sixth in 1:43.08, his best race in FIVE YEARS! Donavan was pumped and able to roll!
On the US champs, Donavan Brazier made it by the primary spherical, and the semis. Within the ultimate, August 3, 2025, of the USATF Championships, Donavan Brazier returned and surpassed his previous self, charging by a crowded final 80 meters, taking the definitive lead and successful the US champs in 1:42.16! His return was full, in a PB and making WCS commonplace for Tokyo. Six years after his win in Doha, Qatar, Donavan Brazier is racing along with his entire physique, thoughts and spirit.
After his race on the US Champs, I had a couple of minutes with Donavan Brazier, I assumed you wish to see the reborn World Champion! Effectively performed, Donavan Brazier. You made me cry watching you end! It was past my wildest desires for you and it was superb. One of many best 800 meter races ever run at a US Championships!
Donavan Brazier, so gracious whether or not he does properly, did improbable, successful with a transfer from 150 meters to go! #800meters, #usatfoutdoors, @DonavanBrazier , @mwgam, @gamupdates, pic.twitter.com/iw7gtgOkP6
— RunBlogRun (@RunBlogRun) August 3, 2025
