In just one week, Cassio Dias went from lying in a hospital bed to being crowned the 2024 PBR (Professional Bull Riders) World Champion and Rookie of the Year. On the heels of suffering a brutal wreck during the first stage of the PBR World Finals: Unleash the Beast, the 22-year-old emerged victorious at AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys , on Sunday. After being awarded with PBR Champion buckle and $1 million prize bonus, Dias became only the second rider in the history of bull riding to be named both world champ and rookie of the year in the same season.
“It's God. It's God. It's God,” he said following his masterful performance.
“He promised me I'd be a World Champion someday, and here I am.” The recently reformatted 2024 PBR World Finals: Unleash The Beast kicked off last week with a round of eliminations. Dias entered the first phase with a 560.
5-point cushion over second-place rider John Crimber. He increased his lead further, going 2-2 through the opening two rounds. Dias ran into trouble in Round 3, however, after being bucked off by Norse God and subsequently stomped on.
He sustained a back injury from the incident and was quickly transported to a local hospital to be looked at. READ MORE Geane Herrera dies aged 33 after UFC star involved in motorbike crash READ MORE Anderson Silva fight plan revealed as old UFC rivalry rekindled to delight of fans Destined to be a PBR World Champion. Congratulations, Cassio Dias! pic.
twitter.com/i5ulSSMPJ9 — PBR (@PB.