Nel started his career as a
Rugby player, playing for the
Central University of Technology and
Free State Cheetahs. In 2023, he tried strongman by participating in South Africa's Strongest Man competition, where he emerged victorious. With back-to-back victories, he was invited to the
Siberian Power Show and the Strongman Champions League to compete alongside other leading international athletes. Despite a foot fracture which occurred in event two, he placed fourth at 2024 Siberian Power Show 2024 SCL Africa and 2024 SCL World Finals. In 2025, Nel was given a wildcard invite to the
2025 World's Strongest Man Competition. In a group filled with seasoned pros, such as 2x podium finisher
Mateusz Kieliszkowski and runner up at the
Arnold Strongman Classic Lucas Hatton, he won his group and proceeded to defeat both former champions
Mitchell Hooper and
Tom Stoltman in the final to win the World's Strongest Man. After his victory at WSM, Nel recorded two further victories over successive weekends at the Strongman Champions League, SCL Italy and SCL Holland. Nel made his debut on the Giants Live circuit in July 2025, finishing 4th at the Strongman Classic behind
Evan Singleton, fellow South African Jaco Schoonwinkel and
Paddy Haynes. Having come 8th at the Rogue Invitational at the start of the month, Nel claimed his 9th international title in November 2025 at the SCL World Finals in his native Upington, South Africa. Nel won six of the seven events, breaking multiple SCL records in the process, to win his sixth successive SCL meet. In April 2026, Nel came 2nd at World's Strongest Man narrowly missing out on the title to Mitchell Hooper. ==Personal records==