2024 PRORODEO Media Guide

BULL RIDING Hamilton Fights Through Injury To Win Bull Riding Championship

The bull riding competition at the 2023 Wran gler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge for all intents and purposes was a heart-pounding, feel-good documentary about Ky Hamilton. After overcoming his share of adversity, Hamilton walked out of the Thomas & Mack Center with two gold buckles for the PRCA World Cham pionship and NFR Average title. He finished atop the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $595,414 and clinched his first career PRCA World Championship. Hamilton, a native of Mackay, Australia, is the first Australian to capture a PRCA Bull Riding World Championship. He also broke the single season bull riding mark, breaking Stetson Wright’s record of $592,144 in 2022. Hamilton joins ProRodeo Hall of Famers Dave Appleton (all-around, 1988) and Glen O’Neill (saddle bronc riding, 2002) as the only native Australians to win PRCA World Championships. He had a drama-packed NFR for the ages on the way to his inaugural world championship.

He wasn’t supposed to compete in Round 6 of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo on Dec. 12 – until he did. Just 16 hours after losing consciousness and suffering a concussion when he was bucked off in Round 5, Hamilton was back in the yellow bucking chutes, for Round 6, and winning money. He split third in Round 6 with his 85.5-point ride on Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics’ Love The Grind’s Bouchon. That was just Hamilton’s opening act. In Round 7, he claimed the victory with an 88-point ride on Duane Kesler’s Alberta Prime Devil’s Advocate. He also was the lone rider during the evening perfor mance – earning a $99,053 payday in Round 7. “It’s has been (tough) but it’s been fun. Sure, getting knocked out is not fun but I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way,”Hamilton said.“I grew up idolizing cowboys and surrounding myself with bull riders who are cowboys, and it was just another day for me.” – Tracy Renck

2023 WORLD CHAMPIONS

PRCA photo by Clay Guardipee of Ky Hamilton in Round 7 at the 2023 NFR

Ky Hamilton, above, had an 88-point trip on Duane Kesler’s Alberta Prime Devil’s Advocate to win Round 7 at the 2023 NFR and pocket $99,053, thanks to being the only cowboy to make the whistle in the round.

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2024 PRCA MEDIA GUIDE