PUEBLO, Colo. – 2023 has not been kind to Daylon Swearingen.

In 2022, he had maybe the best year of any rider in the PBR. He won the 2022 PBR World Championship before lighting it up for the Carolina Cowboys in the PBR Camping World Team Series, finishing No. 2 in the regular-season MVP race.

But as soon as Teams ended and the season flipped to 2023, nothing has been the same.

This time last year, Swearingen was dealing with a groin injury and took a week off to get injected. He returned to action in New York City, where he tore the muscle off his pelvis, requiring surgery at the beginning of January, and missed the rest of the UTB season. He made a last-ditch effort to qualify for the 2023 PBR World Finals through the Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour Finals, but was unsuccessful.

Swearingen returned to the Cowboys when Teams action kicked off again in July, but that too was short-lived.

“My hip kind of got sore on me again,” Swearingen said. “My hip and my groin’s all on the same side, so it’s just a lot built up right there.”

He competed in just three Teams events before missing nearly a month. He had two outs at Freedom Fest in Oklahoma City in early September but then didn’t compete again until the 2023 PBR Camping World Teams Championship in Las Vegas in late October.

All told, he went 4-for-10 in five Teams events as the Cowboys faded down the stretch.

“This year was just kind of a struggle,” Swearingen said. “It was really hard. There were some times when I felt like I definitely could’ve went, and they held me back, which was probably a good idea now looking back at it. But I’m doing everything I can to make sure that I’ll be there, I’ll be at the next event, and during the week, I’m doing everything I can to keep my body feeling good.”

But if 2023 was cursed, Swearingen can now close the book on it. The 2024 Unleash The Beast season officially began with the PBR Tucson a few weeks ago, and with the conclusion of the 2023 PBR Canada National Finals, presented by Command Tubular Products, his 2023 season is officially done.

While he finished 22^nd in Tucson, going 1-for-2, his ride was an impressive one.

In Round 1, he rode Buster Moon for 82.25 points, gritting out 8 seconds even after being pulled down over the bull’s head for a jarring collision.

“Oh yeah, my head took it,” Swearingen said afterward with a laugh. “I didn’t really know anything about that bull. It just kind of worked out, but was only 82. But it felt good. It’s a long season. The re-ride bull, he’s kind of hit or miss, so I figured I’d keep it. Kind of working through some soreness in my hip, so I’m just trying to take it easy and slowly progress and keep getting stronger.”

Even after taking a solid hit, Swearingen was determined not to give up on his ride.

“I feel like every time I nod my head, I’m putting out everything it takes,” he said. “I’m thankful I had a 100X helmet on. It took care of me, took the impact, and it all worked out. God was taking care of me. I know every time I nod my head that God is watching over me, and I can leave it all out there, and however it plays out is how it’s supposed to play out.”

Despite the lingering hip soreness, Swearingen then went north to Edmonton, Alberta, to compete in the PBR Canada National Finals. The 2019 PBR Canada Champion had a slow first day, going 0-for-2, but rebounded for two solid rides to close out the competition in 10^th place.

Swearingen will next be in action at the PBR St. Louis at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis on Dec. 2-3. Action begins on Dec. 2 at 7:45 p.m. ET on RidePass on Pluto TV.

Moving into 2024, he’s making sure to be smarter about how he cares for his body. Still just 24, he could have many more years of a career ahead of him.

“This year was a big learning curve,” he said. “I was doing the physical therapy and stuff like that, but now I’m doing the physical therapy, and I’m doing more, going and seeing trainers. I can’t do it all on my own. I like to be independent and do stuff on my own, but I’ve got to treat it like I’m a professional athlete, and I have to go see people who actually are professionals in this. So that’s kind of been what I’ve been working on, and just feeling better. I want to get through the individual season feeling really good and riding good, and also carry it on into Teams.”

After the year he’s had, Swearingen is even more motivated to get back at it and chase another gold buckle.

“I’m definitely still a little sore and still working through that, but that’s bull riding. You’re going to work through soreness,” Swearingen said. “But definitely coming back stronger this year. I think my mind’s stronger. I’m definitely in better shape than I was last year. And just keep working and keep feeling good.”

Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media