Donavan Brazier

Collegiate After graduating from high school after the 2015 season Brazier went to Texas A&M University, where he was coached by former top runner Alleyne Francique and head coach Pat Henry. |group="note" He won the 2016 SEC indoor championship in 1:46.08, but failed to finish his heat at the NCAA indoor championships due to a back injury.

Brazier returned to action outdoors, but needed several meets to return to top shape. The time was a new collegiate record, American junior and NACAC junior record and world junior (U20) leader; the previous American junior outdoor record was Jim Ryun's 1:44.3/1:44.9, set exactly fifty years earlier on June 10, 1966. Brazier's American and NACAC junior record stood until 2025, when Cooper Lutkenhaus ran 1:42.27.

Professional Brazier turned professional after his NCAA victory, signing an endorsement deal with Nike and forgoing his three remaining years of collegiate eligibility. Brazier finished 19th in the 800 meters at the 2016 USATF Olympic Trials in 1:48.13. Donavan Brazier reconnected with his coach from Texas A&M University (Grenada’s top 400 m runner Alleyne Francique). At the 2017 National Championships, he followed Eric Sowinski's early kick into a breakaway position and held his pace as Sowinski faded to win his first national championship, thus qualifying for the World Championships.

On August 29, 2019, Brazier set a new 800 meter personal best of 1:42.70 en route to winning the Diamond League meet in Zurich, Switzerland. In this race, Brazier demonstrated phenomenal finishing speed by overtaking Botswanan runner Nijel Amos in the last 30 meters, who had attempted the race at world record pace.

On October 1, 2019, Brazier won the 800 meter at the World Championships in Doha, Qatar. His time of 1:42.34 was a championships record and a new American record, surpassing Johnny Gray's 1:42.60 from 1985. At the end of the season, Brazier was selected for the Jesse Owens Award.

On February 8, 2020, Brazier set the American indoor 800 meter record in a time of 1:44.22. He opened his 2020 season in the 1500 meters, running a world lead of 3:35.85. In August he ran another world lead in the 800 meters, with 1:43.15.

On February 13, 2021, Brazier ran 1:44.21 in the 800 meters at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in New York City to lower his then-American indoor record (since broken by Josh Hoey in 2025) in the event by .01 seconds. The same year, Brazier had surgery to repair a fractured tibia.

At the 2022 World Athletics Championships, Brazier was eliminated in the first round of the 800 meters. He later underwent achilles surgery to repair a Haglund's deformity, which required two follow-up surgeries. At the end of 2023, he left the Nike Union Athletics Club and coach Pete Julian. In 2025, Brazier began to receive workouts from Mike Smith. On June 16, 2025, he won the 800 meters at the Portland Track Festival in a time of 1:43.81. On July 19, 2025, he finished sixth in the 800 meters at the London Athletics Meet, in a season's best time of 1:43.08. On August 3, 2025, Brazier won the 800 meter final at the 2025 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, in a new personal best of 1:42.16, thus qualifying for the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, Japan. At the 2025 World Championships, Brazier was eliminated in the semifinal round.

Personal life Brazier has been in a relationship with Ally Watt and got engaged on February 24, 2025. The couple married on December 19, 2025.

Achievements Personal bests Event Time Date Location Notes Outdoor 400 m 47.02 9 April 2016 Tempe, Arizona 800 m 1:42.16 3 August 2025 Eugene, Oregon 1500 m 3:35.85 3 July 2020 Portland, Oregon Indoor 400 m 46.14 27 February 2022 Spokane, Washington 600 m 1:13.77 24 February 2019 New York City, New York WB 800 m 1:44.21 13 February 2021 New York City, New York 1000 m 2:21.79 11 February 2017 New York City, New York Mile 3:59.30 9 December 2017 College Station, Texas

International competitions

Circuit wins and titles Indoor Tour

Diamond League

National championships

NCAA championships