University of Victoria Athletics

CATEGORY: Athlete

Before becoming a two-time Olympian, Carey Nelson honed his stride around UVic's Gordon Head campus. The Saskatoon native had two outstanding years with the Vikes middle distance program, capturing three bronze and a silver in CIAU cross-country and long distance track events.

For his success at the university level, Nelson was named to the 1984 and 1985 CIAU All-Canadian team, and earned UVic's prestigious President's Cup in 1986.

However, it was at the International stage where Nelson left his lasting impression. His first big race success came in the 1986 World University Games in Japan, winning a silver medal in the 1500m. The feeling of running for Canada seemed to stick with Nelson, as he would once again represent his country in 1988, this time at the Seoul Olympics. After his Olympic appearance, Nelson shifted his focus towards marathons, capturing the Toronto Marathon in 1990 and winning the Houston Marathon in 1991 with a time of 2:13.38.
 
Nelson capped off his terrific running career by competing in the marathon at the 1996 Olympic games in Atlanta, where he would finish 35th. 

UVic Achievements
-  1984 Canada West Champion gold medalist and 1984 CIAU national bronze medalist
-  Captured two more bronze medals and one silver medal at the CIAU cross-country and long distance track events
-  1984 CIAU All- Canadian
-  1985 CIAU All-Canadian
-  1986 UVic President’s Cup recipient 

International Achievements
-  1986 World University Games silver medalist in the 1500-m
-  1987 Pan Am Games fourth place in the 5000-m
-  1988 Seoul Summer Olympic Games
-  1990 Toronto Marathon winner
-  1991 Houston Marathon winner at a time of 2:13.28
-  1996 Atlanta Summer Olympic Games marathon finalist 

Hall of Fame
-  Inducted into the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame 2011