Rodeo Daily

A Forced Time-Out for World Champion Bull Rider Ky Hamilton After Back-to-Back Injuries

Reigning World Champion Bull Rider Ky Hamilton announced he is out for the foreseeable future on The Luke Branquinho Show Monday night. He said a dislocated shoulder is to blame.

Courtney Kreider

PRCA photo by Roseanna Sales

The Australian Cowboy proved to the world he was tougher than the rest during this last Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, taking home the 2023 PRCA Bull Riding World Champion title despite suffering a concussion in Round 5 of the Finals.

Ky Hamilton announced on Luke Branquinho’s Show on Jan. 29 that he will need to take some time off in 2024 due to multiple injuries.

“The worst part is I feel like I was riding just as good as I was at the Finals, and so it’s just kind of a freak deal that sucks,” Hamilton said, grinning. “Evidentally, the gettin’ knocked around part hasn’t left me.”

The 23-year-old world champ told Branquinho he dislocated his shoulder twice in one week. The first dislocation happened during a ride in Denver. The second took place while competing in the Forth Worth Stock Show and Rodeo this last week.

"He is such a great guy, a great athlete with a good heart. I give him a hard time because I know him but it is sad to see this," Branquinho told SI Rodeo.

Known for his determination and refusal to quit, Hamilton rode two bulls in between those injuries and went two-for-two at Rapid City’s Xtreme Bulls before he was officially sidelined.

In addition to his dislocated shoulder, he is also dealing with a torn ACL. However, if there’s anything fans know about the Aussie Cowboy, he’ll be back on a bull as soon as doctors clear him.

The full interview featuring Hamilton will be posted on Tuesday, Feb. 6, at 10 a.m. PST on the Luke Branquinho Show. 

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Courtney Kreider
COURTNEY KREIDER

Newly added to the team, Western Sports Writer Courtney Kreider is a former TV journalist, bringing eight years of broadcast experience to the world of rodeo. Known for her Emmy-nominated California wildfire coverage, Courtney’s passion for working the fire lines makes her a perfect match for the adrenaline inside the rodeo arena. The Western industry is also home to Courtney. Born and raised in the small town of Viola, Calif., her love for horses and the cowboy culture began as a little girl exploring the alluring backcountry in the northern part of the state. She works as a media relations coordinator for the Red Bluff Round-Up and serves as a spokesperson for the rodeo every April. Away from work, Courtney enjoys her time off the grid with her family in Montana, which she calls her second home. Majoring in Criminology in college, Courtney’s passion for humanizing the badge has brought close relationships with various municipalities throughout her career. Her genuineness is shown in her ability to go beyond the emergency or story at hand. This year, she covered the American Rodeo and the Wrangler National Finals and is coming off her first year dedicated to promoting our Western lifestyle.

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