Marcelo Procopio Pereira's Journey from Brazil to PBR Fame
Photo courtesy of Marcelo Procopio Pereira
Marcelo Procopio Pereira's journey to the PBR stage began in a small town in Rinopolis, Sao Paulo, Brazil. From those humble beginnings to the adrenaline-pumping arenas of the United States, Marcelo’s career is a testament to the power of dreams and determination.
A Passion is Born
Marcelo's passion for bull riding began at a young age, thanks to his grandfather, a former bull rider, who introduced him to the sport in Brazil. Encouraged by a friend with a nearby arena, 13-year-old Marcelo rode his first bull, and that ride turned into a lifelong passion.
“After that, I couldn’t stop,” Marcelo shares. “Every time I ride a bull, I'm more excited. I love it.”
From there, Marcelo’s passion grew, inspiring him to dream of someday going to America and riding on the PBR circuit.
“I had a dream to come to America,” Marcelo recalls. “I watched all these superstars in America on TV, and I wanted to be there one day.”
Photo courtesy of Marcelo Procopio Pereira
At 24, with just $500 in his pocket, he moved to the United States, using his phone as a translator. His first goal after he stepped off the plane in Dallas, Texas, was to find a job and make ends meet while he worked his way onto the PBR circuit.
Building a Better Life
Although finding work and building a life in America was daunting, Marcelo found motivation in his desire to provide a better life for his family back in Brazil.
“I didn’t have much growing up, but my mother and my dad gave everything for me, just to have the simple things,” Marcelo shares. “My second year in America, I built a beautiful house for my family in Brazil. Now, everything is very nice for my dad, my mother, my sister, and my family.”
Meanwhile, in America, Marcelo’s job on a ranch in Texas led to an opportunity to add a new member to his family—his wife, Jodie McCutcheon.
Photo courtesy of Marcelo Procopio Pereira
“I started working for a ranch that is owned by my wife’s parents,” he recalls. “After two years of working there, I invited her for go for dinner.”
That first date led to more dates, and eventually, wedding bells. Now, the happy couple is building a life together, while Marcelo continues living his dream on the PBR circuit. With more than $231,000 in PBR career earnings and three PBR World Finals qualifications to his name, Marcelo is not just living his dream but excelling at it.
Photo courtesy of Marcelo Procopio Pereira
As a proud member of the Texas Rattlers, Marcelo is soaking up every opportunity to improve his skills and build relationships with his teammates.
“I'm so blessed that to part of the Texas Rattlers,” he says. “I'm learning a lot, and these guys make me better every day. I have so many friends from America, Australia, Canada, and Mexico. Everybody has something you can learn from.”
The Power of Support
Despite his success, the road hasn’t been without some speedbumps for Marcelo. Just before the 2022 PBR World Finals, Marcelo suffered an injury that temporarily halted his progress.
“I broke my hand, and I needed surgery to be able to keep riding,” Marcelo recalls. “I had qualified for the [PBR World Finals], but I didn’t get to ride because I needed the surgery.”
As he faced PBR’s biggest event from the sidelines, Marcelo found Western Sports Foundation and reached out for help.
“For a bull rider, it’s very hard because if you get injured, you can’t work or ride bulls,” he shares. “I’m blessed to have the Western Sports Foundation to help me because the bills keep coming every month, and there’s nobody else to care for you when you’re hurt.”
Photo courtesy of Marcelo Procopio Pereira
After recovering, Marcelo returned to the circuit with renewed determination to keep pursuing his goals.
“Every day, I wake up and I do something to make me better,” Marcelo shares. “I try my best to be healthy and strong for the season.”
With that mindset, the bull rider has his sights set on a new goal: winning a PBR World Championship title.
“It’s awesome qualifying for the finals, but right now I have a different dream: I want to be a World Champion,” Marcelo reveals. “I want to be 100% healthy so I have a chance at winning the World Championship because this is my dream.”
Achieving the Dream
Marcelo's journey from his hometown in Brazil to the big stage of PBR in America is a remarkable testament to his determination and passion.
Photo courtesy of Marcelo Procopio Pereira
“In Brazil, we have a lot of big events for bull riders, but in America, it can change your life,” Marcelo shares. “In Brazil, the rodeos don’t pay big money for bull riders. That’s starting to change now with PBR Brazil putting up more money for the bull riders, but it’s nothing compared to America.”
“Now that I have my house in America, I want to live here forever,” he continues. “Not just for the money but for organizations like WSF and the amazing doctors. We don’t have the same support for bull riding in Brazil. Having WSF to support us makes life easier because, as bull riders, we always have injuries.”
As he continues to make his mark in the world of bull riding, Marcelo’s journey stands as a shining example of what can be achieved when dreams and dedication come together.