João Lucas Campos took one of the fastest routes imaginable from Brazil to bull riding’s biggest stage. After building his reputation at home, the Porto Feliz native arrived in the United States in 2023 and made his American debut at the Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour Finals. After bucking off his first bull, Campos responded by winning the next two rounds to capture the event title and punch his ticket directly to his first PBR World Finals.

He kept rolling in Fort Worth, tying for the Round 4 win with a career-high 89.5-point ride on Moonlight Party and finishing 11th in his World Finals debut. Days later, the Missouri Thunder selected him with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 PBR Teams Draft.

After one season with Missouri, Campos signed with the Florida Freedom in 2024 and quickly became one of the team’s most reliable riders, going 11-for-17 for a 64.71% riding percentage as Florida finished third in the regular-season standings and advanced to Championship Sunday in Las Vegas.

Bull riding has always been part of a bigger dream for Campos. He once wanted to become a veterinarian and stay involved in rodeo, and he still spends his free time fishing, camping, riding dirt bikes and ATVs, and skiing or snowboarding. A married father of one, Campos lists his wife, Monique, as one of his favorite people and Jose Vitor Leme and his father among his biggest influences.

His playlist blends country and Brazilian favorites, from Cody Johnson to Henrique & Juliano and Zé Neto & Cristiano, while Mexican food is his favorite cuisine and Chili’s is his go-to restaurant. From an unforgettable first weekend in America to becoming a dependable piece of the Freedom, Campos has wasted little time proving he belongs.