Donavan Brazier’s Comeback Story: The Long Road Back, Resilience, Injury Recovery And Gratitude To Be Able To Race Again

“A lot of people when they go out and do things [after an injury] have this vengeance. It’s always like, ‘I’m doing it for the people who counted me out,’ or ‘I’m doing it for revenge.’ But I’m doing it for the people who say I can do it because I have such an overwhelming amount of people who have been supportive and have known I can come back. It’s so cool to prove them right.”

It’s not every day that an athlete disappears from racing for nearly three years—undergoes multiple surgeries, leaves their training group, and then returns to the track to drop a 1:44 in their first 800m back. But that’s exactly what Donavan Brazier just did.

The former world champion, American record holder, and longtime face of U.S. middle-distance running made a stunning comeback in Nashville this past weekend—not just running well, but dominating the field and flashing the brilliance that once made him one of the most electrifying athletes in the sport.

If you’ve followed Donavan’s career, you know the road back has been anything but easy. He’s battled injuries, Achilles surgeries, a fractured tibia, bursitis—over 1,000 days without stepping onto a start line. He could have walked away. No one would have blamed him. But he didn’t.

Today, we dive into why. What kept him going? What was it like to toe the line again? And how does he see himself fitting into the most competitive U.S. 800m field in years?

We reflect on the highs, the lows, the what-ifs and look ahead at what’s next for both Donavan and the event he helped redefine. This is a story about resilience, patience, perspective—and the kind of raw talent that refuses to fade.

Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram⁠⁠

Guest: Donavan Brazier | @donavanbrazier on Instagram

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS

OLIPOP: Olipop is a prebiotic soda that tastes like a throwback to your favorite childhood drinks, but it's loaded with benefits that your body will thank you for. Each can has 2-5g of sugar, 6-9g of fiber, and a science-backed formula designed to help you support your digestive health. They've got plenty of flavor options like Classic Root Beer, Crisp Apple, Grape, Cream Soda and wild hits like Peaches and Cream. You can grab Olipop at Target, Whole Foods, and Walmart or you can go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠DrinkOlipop.com and use promo code CITIUS25 at checkout for 25% off all of your orders⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

PILLAR PERFORMANCE: We all know that sleep is where the magic happens. That's when your body is rebuilding – but getting into those deeper stages of sleep is what makes the difference between just going to bed and actually recovering. Just mix in a scoop of water about 30 to 60 minutes before bedtime. It's simple, it's clean, it's vegan, and NSF certified. If you're someone who takes their training and recovery seriously, this is something worth trying. Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠pillarperformance.shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or if you're in North America, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thefeed.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use code CITIUS for 15% off your first purchase.

VELOUS: Recover smarter with VELOUS’ new active adjustable slide! Tired feet? VELOUS has you covered. VELOUS just launched the NEW Active Adjustable Slide, designed to take your recovery to the next level. With a perfectly contoured midsole, these slides maximize cushioning and support to help ease tired feet and legs. Run. Recover. Repeat with VELOUS. .css-j9qmi7{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:1rem;margin-top:2.8rem;width:100%;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:start;justify-content:start;padding-left:5rem;}@media only screen and (max-width: 599px){.css-j9qmi7{padding-left:0;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;}}.css-j9qmi7 svg{fill:#27292D;}.css-j9qmi7 .eagfbvw0{-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;color:#27292D;}