SAO JOSE DO RIO PRETO, Brazil (July 25, 2010) - Back in his home country of Brazil to receive physical therapy, Guilherme Marchi got a hero’s welcome from the capacity crowd at the 2010 Rio Preto Rodeo Country Bulls on Friday.
Marchi, who is rehabbing from surgery he underwent earlier this summer, made the trip to Sao Jose do Rio Preto from his home outside of Sao Paulo, and talked about the dreams young Brazilian riders have of a better life in America.
“A lot of young guys have a lot of potential and ride very good,” said Marchi, who started seven-hour therapy sessions on his injured wrist last Tuesday. He has been bothered by his right wrist and hand since a chute mishap earlier this year at a Built Ford Tough Series event in Anaheim, Calif.
“A lot of guys here have dreams of going to the United States and making the Finals.”
After watching the third round of the event, Marchi talked about the difference between Brazilian and American riders.
The 2008 World Champion noted that in the U.S., riders start competing at a young age and have bull riding schools available to them, where they receive proper instruction. In Brazil, most of them “start on a ranch by themselves.”
But since its founding four years ago, PBR Brazil has “helped grow the bull riding here,” Marchi said. “The events are going very good … there’s more money now.”
In the years since Marchi won the national Brazilian title, the sport has grown from awarding a single automobile to a point where, a month ago, Wesley Lourenco won more than $75,000 in U.S. currency at one event. That prize money secures him a spot at the upcoming PBR World Finals in Las Vegas.
“Those riders are very strong and used to working on the farm, riding a lot of horses,” Marchi said, “and those people have a dream of being champion one day.
“I love everybody here. Everybody is my friend. I try to help everybody too, and I’d like to see everybody make their dream.”
Marchi added that he’s proud of what the sport in Brazil has become in recent years and hopes that young Brazilian riders still to come are able to “make their life good.”
