Donavan Brazier

Donavan Brazier is an American track and field athlete born on 15th April 1997. He is a native of Grand Rapids city of Michigan in the United States. Donavan specializes in middle distance running and represents the USA internationally in 800m sprints.

Background

Donavan Brazier was born to Johnny Brazier and Jennifer Pennington. He was born and brought up in Grand Rapids city of Michigan. Donavan has two siblings, Dominic and Haile Brazier.

Donavan had a keen interest in athletics while studying at high school. He attended Kenowa Hills High School, where he represented them and won the 800m title at the National Scholastic Indoor Championship. Donavan had also taken part in the 4x400m relay and improved his 800m timing in his senior year at high school.

In 2015, after completion of high school education, Donavan Brazier enrolled at Texas A&M University to become a part of the Texas A&M Aggies team, where he was trained under Alleyne Francique and Pat Henry. He represented his college team at SEC Championships and NCAA Track and Field Championships.

Donavan Brazier currently trains under Pete Julian.

Rise to Glory

Donavan Brazier competed in his first international championships at the 2015 Pan-American Junior Athletics Championships in Edmonton, Canada. In 2016, he won the 800m title at the SEC Indoor Championships, followed by a Bronze medal in 800m at the SEC Outdoor Championships.

At the 2016 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Donavan won his first national title in 800m by clocking 1:45.27 seconds. The following year, he won his first senior outdoor 800m title at the US Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

In 2018, Donavan claimed the 800m indoor title with a timing of 1:45.10s, and in the following year, he won the 600m indoor title by clocking 1:13.77s at the US Indoor Track and Field Championships.

Donavan Brazier is recorded as the 9th joint fastest-runner in 800m (1:42.34s) and 6th fastest-runner in 600m (1:13.77s) in the world.

Major Achievements

Donavan Brazier made his major professional debut in 2017 at the World Athletics Championships, where he finished 1st in 800m heats but couldn’t qualify for the final after finishing 12th in the semi-final. The following year, Donavan competed at the World Indoor Championships but was unfortunately disqualified from the tournament for a lane violation in 800m heats.

In 2019, Donavan hit the American news headlines after he emerged as 800m World Champion by clocking 1:42.34s, 0:01.13s ahead of Silver-medalist Amel Tuka of Bosnia. That year, in May, he and his mixed relay partner Ce’Aira Brown topped the podium finish in 2x2x400m Mixed Relay at the World Athletics Relay. In August, Donavan won his first Diamond League title in 800m in Zurich, Switzerland.

Donavan Brazier is eyeing an Olympic berth at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and shall be in contention to win a medal in 800m sprints.