Austin Gamblers’ Lucas Divino Finding his Form With Opening Weekend of World Finals in the Books
By: James Youness
FORT WORTH, Texas – As the best bull riders and bovines in the world gathered inside Dickies Arena Sunday afternoon for Round 3 of the 2023 PBR World Finals: Unleash The Beast, the premier series’ animal athletes were absolutely dominating the pack.
That was, until the Austin Gamblers’ Lucas Divino was up to bat.
Dispatching the first 12 cowboys who attempted to meet the whistle, the collective streak of buckoffs came to an end when the talented Brazilian conquered La Grande for 88 points.
Bringing the crowd to its feet after giving the audience a reason to celebrate for the first time in the third round, he collected his bull rope and headed back to the locker room like it was another day in the office.
Eventually sharing his thoughts a few moments later, the 29-year-old was, indeed, excited, but it’s just the beginning of his run through the eight-round gauntlet.
“It felt very good. I’m exited to keep going that way and get the job done,” Divino shared after recording his first ride of the season-ending event.
“I’m feeling good. I have a good feeling about next week and I think a lot of good things are going to come.”
After spending the inaugural 2022 season of the separate PBR Team Series with the Austin Gamblers, picking up things here and there from All-World talents in Jose Vitor Leme, Dalton Kasel and head coach Michael Gaffney, Divino spent a good five months or so recovering from surgery this winter after last competing Nov. 5 during the 2022 PBR Team Series Championship in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he got banged up.
With a second-place finish at the PBR Stockyards Showcase March 23 marking his first time competing at a PBR-sanctioned event since getting injured in Las Vegas, the 29-year-old didn’t need many official reps to get back in the swing of things.
“I surprised myself because in my head it was just go, just for practice, but then I did way better than I thought I would and now here I am. I got one bull rode and it’s all been very surprising to me.”
Coming into the two-weekend showcase ranked No. 35 in the UTB standings, Divino stormed backed onto the scene in mid-April by placing within the Top 5 in three-of-four UTB events in which he appeared.
Beginning his successful stint with a third-place result in Billings, Montana, he followed it up five days later in Everett, Washington, by earning 39 UTB points courtesy of his fourth-place finish. Finishing the season with a bang, AKA a fifth-place showing at the PBR Cooper Tires Invitational, presented by Kubota, he punched his ticket to his fifth World Finals in just 15 days of action.
In a season ridden with injuries and plenty of elite showcases dictated by the collective UTB bovines, riders around the tour can’t help but be a bit envious of Divino after seeing him qualify for the biggest event of the year in such limited action.
Despite his short journey to the big show, he recognized how special it would be to walk out of this thing with an event title, especially after spending so much time rehabbing and getting back to this point.
“It’s hard to describe because this is something I dream about. I’m here to fight and bring this home. If it doesn’t happen this year, I’m going to be back next season, stronger, healthier and better, to do everything right,” Divino said.
“I’m going to go back home after today and clear my mind, spend time with my family and ride my horse. Do everything that I do every week so that I can do my best every day and perfect things the best I can.”
With a 12th place finish during last year’s World Finals serving as his best placement at the finale to date, he’ll look to build on his fifth-place tie with Cooper Davis in Round 3 Sunday, and T12th overall standing when the second weekend of action begins on Thursday, May 18.
Photo courtesy of Bull Stock Media
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