PUEBLO, Colo. – LeAndro Machado closed his eyes as the PBR sports medicine team placed him on a stretcher during Championship Sunday of the 2019 PBR World Finals.
Machado had been stepped on by Nailed minutes earlier during Round 5, and he was in the process of being transported to University Medical Center with three broken ribs and a collapsed lung.
The 22-year-old had known this was always a possibility when he first began to ride bulls professionally five years ago, but he had been fortunate to avoid serious injury until his first PBR World Finals.
As they rolled up to the ambulance, Machado just told himself to be quiet and trust the medical staff around him.
“I never got in an ambulance before,” Machado said this week via Messenger. “It was weird, and no one likes to get in one.”
Machado continued, “In the beginning, it was strange because before that ride I had never hurt anything. It was a new sensation, but now I know it is part (of the sport) and I’m already looking forward to the next event.”
Unfortunately for Machado, that next event will not be the 2019 PBR Brazil Finals this week in Brasilia, Brazil. The No. 1 ranked rider in the Brazil has had to remain in the United States with Paulo Crimber for the last two-and-a-half weeks seeing as he had yet to be released by doctors to fly home.
Machado is expecting to fly back to Brazil this weekend, but he will not be cleared to return to competition for likely three months.
His injuries put a damper on what was otherwise a successful American debut.
Machado won the international wild card spot for the 2019 World Finals with an 86.5-point ride on Hot Spots at the 2019 Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour Finals.
The Nova Esperanca, Brazil, native then flashed his potential at the World Finals by 2-for-5 with a monster 92.75-point ride on El Big Bad.
“I am happy,” Machado said. “I really liked (my first Finals) other than the fact that I got hurt and could not ride in the championship round. I was happy for my first time. I didn’t event know the bulls and managed to make good rides. It is a great feeling. I am so much ready for 2020.”
Machado technically could still be crowned the 2019 PBR Brazil champion, but it will depend on what happens at this weekend’s PBR Brazil Finals.
Fans can watch the 2019 PBR Brazil Finals on RidePass beginning at 4:50 p.m. ET.
Machado holds a 307.5-point lead on No. 2 Caic Cassio Carvalho. No. 3 Fabricio Gomes (-584.17), No. 4 Romario Leite (-735), No. 5 Rafael Dos Santos (-765) and No. 5 Joao Lucas (-765) are other top contenders for the Brazilian title.
“I really wanted to be there in the end, but everything is God’s will,” Machado said. “God knows what you do and when it’s not meant to be. We will see. Cassio is riding well and is a few points behind.”
Gustavo Martins de Oliveira, PBR Brazil’s official physical therapist and physical educator, is already working on a rehabilitation plan for Machado.
“I wait for him here in Brazil so we can start physical therapy with breathing work and strengthening the intercostal muscles”, Oliveira told PBR Brazil’s Bia Bitineli.
Machado says his goal is return to the United States in 2020 and make a run at qualifying for the PBR World Finals and ride on the Unleash The Beast.
“I intend to go back,” Machado said. “I will start taking the steps. I think it will possible.”
Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko