Help Equals Hope: Lucas Divino’s Inspiring Story
Lucas Divino has made a name for himself on the PBR circuit and is now a proud member of the Austin Gamblers. Photo courtesy Taylor Divino
On the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) circuit, many people know Lucas Divino for his skill in the arena and his light-hearted antics outside the arena. As a proud member of the Austin Gamblers, Lucas has accumulated nearly $700,000 in lifetime PBR money. But the road to success was far from easy.
The Path to Passion
Growing up in Nova Crixás, Goiás, Brazil, Lucas got a taste of ranch life by working alongside his father.
“I was always the crazy kid, wanting to get on bulls, horses—anything good,” Lucas recalls.
Lucas grew up helping his dad on ranches in Brazil. Photo courtesy Taylor Divino
His introduction to the sport of bull riding came in 2010, at age 15, when a friend invited him to come ride some bulls. Lucas’ natural ability became apparent almost immediately, and his friend encouraged him to keep honing his skills.
Six months later, at age 16, Lucas rode in his first paying event, where he earned second place. His next two rides resulted in two more checks, finishing second and third respectively.
“In four days, and just for eight seconds, I made more than I do in 30 days working on the ranch,” Lucas recalls. “That’s how I got started.”
Lucas' bull riding career started with competitions in Brazil, where he learned the ropes of the sport. Photo courtesy Taylor Divino
The following year, Lucas’ skills improved significantly as he began to make a name for himself among bull riders in Brazil. It was there that Lucas’ future aspirations began to take shape.
“Everybody has a dream to be a world champion,” Lucas says. “[America] is the only place where you can go—it’s the top. So, I decided to come over to America.”
Chasing the Dream
In 2018, Lucas moved to America to pursue his World Champion goals on the PBR circuit.
“I’ve been riding bulls for 13 years,” Lucas explains. “I'm still getting on those crazy bulls. It's been up and down, but I'm glad I get to keep going.”
Now, Lucas has nearly $700,000 in lifetime PBR money to his name. Photo courtesy Taylor Divino
His perseverance has carried him from Brazil to Texas and all over the United States throughout his career, and that same trait has allowed him to overcome the adversity that’s par for the course as a bull rider.
“Every single day, every single time that we get on a bull, it's a big challenge,” Lucas explains. “We never know what's going to happen.”
A Helping Hand
In 2021, Lucas had to rely on more than just his own character to get him through one of his most significant challenges—an extensive hip surgery.
“I had bone spurs on both of my hips,” Lucas shares. “I found out about it in 2019, and the doctors told me if I kept going, it would be worse. I didn't want to do that, because if I stopped then, I wasn’t going to be able to eat. But in 2021, I didn't have a choice. I remember I got on a bull, and the first jump out, I felt like a knife going in me.”
As he faced surgery and a daunting recovery period, Lucas and his wife, Taylor, turned to Western Sports Foundation for assistance.
“Because of the Western Sports Foundation, I was able to feed my family,” Lucas says of the experience. “I don't have words to explain what that means to me. They celebrate with us in the high times, and they are there for us when we need it. They give you a hand and say, ‘You're not alone.’”
Lucas and Taylor welcomed the newest member of their family, Dase, in April of 2024. Photo courtesy Taylor Divino
After making a full recovery post-surgery, Lucas made a triumphant return to competition, but he was still plagued by health concerns.
“I’ve had so many injuries, but the one that was killing me was my head,” he shares. “I realized that I was not the same with my family and my friends. So, one day I told Taylor, ‘I need help.’ I didn’t know where to go, but I knew I needed help for what was going on inside my head.”
Once again, Lucas and Taylor turned to WSF.
“Western Sports Foundation helped me again. They helped pay for everything and helped me find the right doctors,” he says. “The doctor did a lot of tests on my head. They figured out that I was going through some depression. My brain was fine.”
Relieved, Lucas returned home ready to compete, with a clear path to overcoming the mental challenges he was facing.
“I was more comfortable and calm knowing that I was going to get better,” Lucas recalls. “They gave me my life back. There’s not enough money in this world to pay back for that.”
Lucas continues to succeed in the arena as he helps Taylor raise their two little cowboys, Davi and Dase. Photo courtesy Taylor Divino
Since then, Lucas has faced other injuries, as is the nature of his sport, but he’s able to keep chasing his dreams knowing he has the support from WSF when he needs a helping hand.
“It's hard when you have two kids and a wife at home,” Lucas admits. “Life's not easy, but having that hope makes a big difference.”