From the Vault: Reliving Guilherme Marchi’s Career
PUEBLO, Colo. – If there’s one rider in PBR history with a unique career, it’s Guilherme Marchi.
Marchi won the world title in 2008, but that’s only a fraction of the story.
He’s the only rider ever to finish No. 2 in the standings, not one, not two, but three times before finally climbing the mountain himself. He has the most rides in PBR history with 635 and is the only rider to cross the 600-ride threshold. He was inducted into the PBR Ring of Honor in his first year of eligibility after retiring in 2018.
Today, PBR.com’s From the Vault series looks back on one of the sport’s greatest legends.
Guilherme Marchi Locks Up His First World Championship!! (2008)
The top 45 bull riders in the world delighted the sold-out Saturday night crowd at the Thomas & Mack Center during the sixth round of the 2008 PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals presented by Wrangler. Brazilian superstar Guilherme Marchi (Leme, SP, Brazil) claimed his first PBR World Championship during the evening’s round—a title he has been runner-up for the last three years. Marchi claimed a $1 million bonus with his win and is still in the running for the 2008 PBR World Finals Event title.
Marchi first to 500 career rides (2014)
PHOENIX ― Throughout his 11-year career, Guilherme Marchi has given PBR fans plenty to cheer about.
Saturday night, the fans in Phoenix gave the 31-year-old from Leme, Brazil – he currently resides in Ferris, Texas – a standing ovation that was 277 Built Ford Tough Series events in the making over the past 111 months since he first came to the United States.
Marchi didn’t simply ride Pandora’s Pyxis for 84 points to close out the opening round of the Bass Pro Chute Out at US Airways Center, in doing so he became the first rider in the 21-year history of the PBR to reach 500 qualified rides.
“It’s hard to say something,” Marchi said.
The current No. 1 rider in the world was emotional, humble and reflective afterward.
“Every time I get on the bull I enjoy it,” he said. “Each bull I get on, each bull I ride, you guys say, I give it my blood and my determination for riding those bulls.”
He later added, “Some people say I have trouble away from my hand or whatever, but I broke the record. Nobody has done this in the United States in the PBR.”
His first qualified ride came at an outdoor event in Laughlin, Nev., on a bull coincidentally named Arizona in September 2004.
As if the 500 mark was not impressive enough on its own, the breakdown of how the 2008 World Champion reached the unparalleled milestone is simply staggering.
Marchi’s 600 rides is one of the best records in all of sports (2017)
PUEBLO, Colo. – The rest of the sports world should be taking notice of a 34-year-old bull rider from Leme, Brazil.
No, this isn’t because 2008 World Champion Guilherme Marchi is the muscular, stud on the cover of “Men’s Fitness” magazine or because he was a star on the Emmy-nominated documentary series, “Fearless,” last year.
And, yes, he may even be a better dancer than Bonner Bolton if “Dancing with The Stars” were to give Marchi a shot once his riding days are over.
In all seriousness, though, Marchi is much more than a crazy cowboy that decides to show up at an amateur rodeo for a shot at winning bar money for the rest of the weekend.
He is a proven champion at the highest level of competition in his sport.
Marchi is not only a legend in Western sports and a future PBR Hall of Famer, but he is an international sports icon after becoming the first rider in PBR history to record 600 qualified rides on the illustrious Built Ford Tough Series.
Marchi says goodbye at 2018 World Finals (2018)
LAS VEGAS – The conclusion of the PBR World Finals was not only the end of the 2018 season, but it was also the end of the career for one of the PBR’s most beloved cowboys.
2008 World Champion Guilherme Marchi hung up his bull rope on Sunday at the end of his record-tying 15th World Finals appearance.
During Round 5 in T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, PBR CEO Sean Gleason presented Marchi with a plaque commemorating his career and paid tribute to the veteran, who was brought to tears by the outpouring of support from the fans.
“More than all of his accomplishments in the arena, he has been a friend, a mentor,” Gleason said. “I couldn’t think of a better ambassador for the sport of bull riding and the Professional Bull Riders brand than Guilherme Marchi.
“He may be retiring from the arena, but you’re going to see him a lot more, because I’m not going to let him get too far away.”
Composing himself, Marchi took the mic to a raucous ovation from the crowd and left the fans with a few parting words of wisdom.
“I just tell you, if you have a dream, just believe in yourself,” Marchi said. “Never lose your faith. Make your dream come true, like my dream, my American dream, came true.”
Marchi ends career with victory in Goiania (2018)
PUEBLO, Colo. – 2008 World Champion Guilherme Marchi capped his career off by winning the 2018 PBR Brazil Monster Energy Tour event in Goiania, Brazil, on Saturday night with an electrifying ride on the last ride of the evening.
Marchi rode Som de Peao for 87 points in the championship round – sending Goiania Arena into a frenzy – before being lifted off the ground by a group of friends in the arena and placed on horseback for a victory lap.
Fans can re-watch Marchi’s last event exclusively on RidePass.
The 36-year-old announced earlier this year that he would be retiring following the 2018 season.
“It is great to win this event,” Marchi said. “I rode all my three bulls. I rode strong. Also, to do this in front of my people. This is a great event. It is only PBR. It is not rodeo like we are used to with the events here. It is great to win with the Brazilian riders. Good bulls in the short go. It is great to finish strong like that.
“I am never going to forget this last event of my career and to win this event here.”
Marchi: ‘In 2008, I achieved my American dream’ (2019)
LAS VEGAS – 2008 World Champion Guilherme Marchi wiped his eyes Tuesday night during the PBR Heroes & Legends Celebration at South Point Hotel Casino & Spa.
The 47th rider to be inducted into the prestigious Ring of Honor was struggling to begin his acceptance speech.
“It is an honor to receive this ring,” Marchi said. “To come from Brazil. It is hard to say some words right now because I had a dream like you guys have.”
It was 22 years ago that a 15-year-old Marchi was in Brazil when his mom tried to convince him to become a doctor.
“I went to school and my mama said, ‘You are not going to be a bull rider. You are going to be a doctor.’ I said, ‘Shit.’”
Marchi then laughed along with the standing-room-only crowd inside the Grand Ballroom, many of whom came to see Marchi – the first rider since Chris Shivers to be a first-ballot Ring of Honor inductee.
Photo courtesy of Matt Breneman/Bull Stock Media
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