 Nelson akawana nzvimbo muchikwata cheU.S. nokuda kweMitambo yeOlympic yeZhizha ya2008 muBeijing, nokuisa wechipiri paU.S. Olympic TrialsmuEugene, Oregon, nenguva ya 8:21.47. Akakwikwidza senhengo yeU.S. track uye munda timu muvarume 3000 m steeplechase, pamwe chete nevaaitamba navo Anthony Famiglietti naJoshua McAdams. Nelson akamhanya muchikamu chechipiri achipikisana nevamwe vatambi gumi nevatatu, kusanganisira Famiglietti, uye weFrance Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad, uyo akazohwina menduru yesirivheri mumutambo wekupedzisira. Akapedza nhangemutange iri panzvimbo yegumi neimwe nezvikamu zvitanhatu zvegumi zvechipiri 0.60 kumashure kweGreat Britain Andrew Lemoncello, nenguva ye8: 36.66. Nelson, zvisinei, akakundikana kuenda kumagumo, sezvo akaisa makumi matatu, uye akaiswa pasi pematanho mana ekumanikidza kutenderera kunotevera. 