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"IF GOD WANTS, ME TO BE THE WORLD CHAMPION THIS TIME." -JOSÉ VITOR LEME
Photo: Andy Watson / bullstockmedia.com
PBR WORLD CHAMPION JOSÉ VITOR LEME BLAZES NEW TRAILS IN RODEO.
Photo: Andy Watson / bullstockmedia.com
José Vitor Leme represents the future of the PBR.
Humble about his success and dignified in his approach to the sport, the 24-year-old Brazilian rodeo star raises the bar for competition with his consistent high placements and unparalleled ride rates.
Ever since he first arrived at the 2017 PBR World Finals as a relatively unknown rider, he’s shown time and again that he could go down in history as one of the greats. In just a few short years of competing in the US, he’s already achieved more than the majority of bull riders could hope to accomplish in a lifetime, including this year’s PBR World Champion title and $1,601,931.57 in qualified earnings throughout the 2020 season.
“Everything is happening very fast in my career. I think this is all a consequence of how hard I work for it. It’s very crazy when I look back and see that I was a stranger so recently, and today I am at the top of the world ranking,” he said in an interview with American Buckle Magazine just ahead of the 2020 PBR World Finals.
Photo: Andy Watson / bullstockmedia.com
Leme took the rodeo world by storm after sweeping the 2017 PBR World Finals by going 6-for-6, the only rider to do so that year. Three of those rides were 90 points or above, including a 94.5 ride on Magic Train.
It was clear he was destined for big things. In both 2018 and 2019, he ended the year with the number two spot in the world rankings. By 2020, he was more determined than ever to earn that coveted World Champion designation.
In the interim, he managed to rack up an impressive list of sponsors that includes many of the top brands in rodeo, including Ariat, Monster Energy Drink, Yeti and Marquis Metal Works. His persistence, dedication and kindness have amassed the attention of a fervent fanbase that transcends international borders.
Photo: Andy Watson / bullstockmedia.com
HUMBLE BEGINNINGS IN BRAZIL
Unlike many pros that begin training to ride bulls at a young age, Leme didn’t even get on a bull until 18 years old. Before that experience, he was a semi-professional soccer player. He quickly discovered that his strong balancing abilities could also transfer to success in bull riding, making him a natural rodeo athlete. It wasn’t long before he began competing in PBR events in Brazil. It seems his experience there prepared him well for the rigorous competition on the international PBR stage, with its home in the US.
Photo: Andy Watson / bullstockmedia.com
“I rode on a lot of types of bulls in Brazil before coming here,” he said. “I think this may have helped me a lot in adapting when I came. The biggest difference is the style of the bulls, in my opinion.” In the subsequent years, he proved time and again his success was no fluke. He quickly showed the world he was an expert rider who, when in control, showed a remarkable command of the bull below him.
However, as is the nature of the rodeo, luck won’t always be on a bull rider’s side. While he was on track to win the PBR World Champion title in 2019, he found himself edged out by Jess Lockwood, who is perhaps Leme’s toughest competition in all of rodeo. Lockwood had an uncannily strong run in the 2019 PBR World Finals, while Leme wasn’t quite able to perform to the top of his abilities. And, with so much on the line at the year’s biggest rodeo event, even a single misstep can cost a rider a title.
“The finals are always a surprise. It’s really hard to run all year riding well, and in the last event of the year, you lose a whole year of hard work,” Leme said ahead of the big event. “I’m just trying what I’ve tried in the last two years, trying to ride my bulls and catch points on them and, if God wants, me to be the world champion this time.”
Photo: Andy Watson / bullstockmedia.com
It appears his faith in God’s plan paid off. After several years of close calls, he finally earned the PBR World Champion title after a career-best 95.75-point ride on Woopaa in Round 3 of the World Finals ensured no other bull rider could earn enough points to outrank him. Although buckoffs in Round 4 and Round 5 precluded an event win, the Round 3 ride was the highest-marked ride of the event and the fourth highest in PBR World Finals history.
A World Champion title is a particularly exceptional accomplishment in what has been, for people everywhere, an extremely challenging year. Even the PBR itself suffered setbacks in light of the coronavirus pandemic, including several postponements, cancellations and a change of venue for its World Finals event. But none of that stopped Leme from ending the regular season with more than half a million in earnings. “This pandemic has affected the whole world. It has been very difficult for everyone,” Leme said. He thanks God for tempering the virus and allowing him to continue working despite the circumstances.
Photo: Andy Watson / bullstockmedia.com
In addition to his 95.75-point ride on Woopaa at the World Finals, some other highlights of Leme’s 2020 season included a 94-point ride on the PBR’s #1 ranked bull, Chiseled, and a 94.25-point ride on the #2 ranked bull, Smooth Operator. “I particularly like these types of bulls. They’re bulls that, if you manage to beat, you’ll surely have big numbers on them,” he said. “I always try to concentrate to the maximum and give my best.” Only two other riders managed to hang on to Chiseled in the 2020 regular season, and only one other managed to ride Smooth Operator. The fact that Leme has managed both is a feat in and of itself. Still, to those following his career, it’s unsurprising Leme would be the one to dominate the best two bulls in the PBR.
With the World Champion title secured, Leme can now look forward to his next big milestone: The birth of his first child. The new addition to his family gives him even more reason to continue to vie for excellence.
“Everything is very new for me. It will be my first child, and I’m really looking forward to it for sure,” he said. “Now, I start to think not only about my future but also about his future, too. I am very happy for that. For sure, he will come in the best moment of my career.”
Photo: Andy Watson / bullstockmedia.com
During the offseason, he’ll also look forward to caring for his animals. In addition to being a PBR athlete, he’s also a stock contractor.
“I started owning bulls because I wanted to have bulls at home to practice. And with that, I ended up falling in love, starting to breed young bulls and selling them,” he said. “It’s really fun. My dad also does it in Brazil, too, so I think I’ll keep doing it after I retire.”
But retirement likely won’t be anytime soon as Leme’s career continues to heat up. The next year will open up even more possibilities for Leme. There will always be more records to break, more legendary bulls to ride and more opportunities to break rodeo barriers.
Even in light of all his accomplishments and notoriety, Leme remains surprisingly humble.
“I always say to all people that they must put God first in everything they do in life,” he said. “I believe that this is the key to my success — waiting and trusting his time but never failing to do your part. Work hard to deserve the glory. If you do it, for sure, sooner or later, God will honor all efforts.”
On November 15th, 2020, José Vitor Leme secured the 2020 PBR World Champion title at the 2020 PBR World Finals: Unleash The Beast at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX. He earned a total of 1,573 points throughout the 2020 PBR season and took home $1,601,931.27 . The author interviewed Leme prior to the World Finals event.
Photo: Andy Watson / bullstockmedia.com
