PBR’s Austin Gamblers announce return of three-time PBR World Champion Jose Vitor Leme

07.07.26 - News

PBR’s Austin Gamblers announce return of three-time PBR World Champion Jose Vitor Leme

Two-time PBR Teams MVP and Gamblers’ first-ever draft pick returns to the green and black.

By PBR

AUSTIN, Texas (July 7, 2026) — The Austin Gamblers, the 2024 PBR Teams Champions, announced today that three-time PBR World Champion Jose Vitor Leme is returning to the green and black.

Leme has been a foundational member of the Gamblers organization since the launch of PBR Teams, becoming the franchise’s first-ever draft pick when Austin selected him No. 1 overall in the inaugural 2022 PBR Teams Draft. He quickly established himself as one of the league’s most dominant riders, winning PBR Teams MVP honors in both 2022 and 2023 as Austin finished atop the regular-season standings in each of the league’s first two seasons.

“Jose has been a member of our organization since day one, being our very first draft pick,” said JJ Gottsch, CEO of the Austin Gamblers. “We’ve had many special moments together, and look forward to even more success in the future as we continue our goal of winning more championships.”

During the 2022 PBR Teams season, Leme proved to be the right No. 1 overall pick, going 19-for-25, covering 76% of his animal athlete opponents, to win the league’s inaugural MVP honor. His dominant campaign included a seven-out ride streak during the Gamblers’ championship push from Sept. 23 to Oct. 15, highlighted by three consecutive 90-point rides.

Leme again delivered for Austin in 2023, earning his second consecutive PBR Teams MVP honor after going 20-for-29, covering 69% of his bulls, and helping propel the Gamblers to a league-best 19-9 record. Austin went on to reach the PBR Teams Championship Game for the first time in franchise history that season.

In 2024, Leme remained a leader for the Gamblers as the team ascended to the top of PBR Teams, capturing their first league championship. Austin caught fire in the postseason, including a perfect 5-for-5 performance in the Semifinals against the Kansas City Outlaws before defeating the Carolina Cowboys in the Championship Game to be crowned the 2024 PBR Teams Champions.

Leme is widely regarded as one of the greatest bull riders in PBR history, with achievements including riding legendary bull Woopaa for a record-breaking 98.75 points during the 2021 PBR World Finals, earning the sport’s first and only perfect 50-point rider score. He returns to an Austin team that has consistently been among the league’s top contenders. The Gamblers finished second in the 2025 PBR Teams standings with a 24-11 record, marking the third time in four seasons the team finished in the top two.

The Austin Gamblers will host their fifth-annual homestand, PBR Gambler Days, in Austin, Texas, at Moody Center on  August 21 to 23, 2026. Tickets are available now. 

For more information on the Austin Gamblers, visit www.austingamblers.com, @AustinGamblers on Facebook,@Austin_Gamblers on X, @austin_gamblers on Instagram, @austin_gamblers on TikTok and@austin_gamblers on YouTube.

Photo courtesy of Bull Stock Media/Austin Gamblers

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