Shoulder Injury Sidelines Reigning PRCA Bull Riding World Champion Ky Hamilton Indefinitely

Ky Hamilton is no stranger to the injury bug. He battled through a list of injuries to claim his inaugural PRCA Bull Riding World Championship this past December in Las Vegas. He will have to overcome yet another setback in 2024.

Hamilton told the ProRodeo Sports News on Jan. 30, that he suffered a labrum tear in his right shoulder that will require surgery and a lengthy recovery time. The Mackay, Australia, cowboy said the injury originally occurred at the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo in Denver on Jan. 18.

“My shoulder came out in Denver and then it came out again on me in Fort Worth,” said Hamilton, 23. “I have a torn labrum and the ball on my joint is a little messed up and dented. So, I have to have it fixed. If I don’t have surgery, it’s just going to keep coming out on me. Dr. Tandy (Freeman) is going to fix it for me.”

Hamilton, currently sits 16th in the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $14,076 earned in 2024. He said the injury will require him to miss a majority of the rodeo regular season, but he’s not giving up hope on making a return trip to the Wrangler NFR next December.

“I’m going in to get surgery on Feb. 21 and they say it’ll be a six-month recovery after that,” Hamilton said. “I think I’ll still have enough time to make the Finals. The injury bug is just part of it. If you want to play the game, you have to take the pain.”

Courtesy of PRCA