Man Versus Beast: The Most Dangerous 8 Seconds in Sports

It all happens in a flash. Eight seconds to be exact. When a man challenges and conquers one of nature’s most dangerous animals, the bull. It can be the most perilous and gratifying moments of a cowboy’s career. If he can stay on top of the bull for those eight seconds. 

Bull riding is a rodeo sport in which a rider mounts on top of a bull and attempts to stay seated for eight seconds, in order to have a qualifying ride. The rider positions himself on the back of the bull, with one hand holding a braided rope, while the other remains in the air. His main goal is to have an eight second ride with as much glamor and vigor as possible. The rider will be awarded points for the more, and, higher the bull bucks. For those who have never witnessed bull riding, it is like nothing you have ever seen before. It is the most dangerous eight seconds in sports.

The bulls which are used for bull riding are explicitly bred for the sport. They are hypersensitive to negative pressures or other forces, like the weight of a rider. These bulls are fitted with a fleece lined flank strap, attached to their rib cage, which increases bucking. The strap does not cause the animal pain but is made to increase pressure, causing the bull to buck more frequently and with more power, in an attempt to get the rider off their back. 

In Salt Lake City, Utah under a golden moon, bull riders gather for the Days of ‘47 Rodeo. Since 2017, it has been the only rodeo to hand out gold medals to its winners. This tradition is a nod to Utah’s 2002 Winter Olympic games, where rodeo was a part of the cultural arts festival. Previously, bull riders had made one other appearance at the Olympic games in Calgary, at the same cultural arts festival. The event has not made an appearance at the Olympics since its 1998 and 2002 showcases. For many cowboys, however, it is still a dream to stand on the podium and receive a gold medal. The Days of ‘47 Rodeo allows those dreams to come to fruition with their medal awarding ceremony.

Many of the Days of ‘47 Rodeo’s traditions come from longstanding Utah history. Taking place on or around 24 July, it commemorates the day — 24 July, 1847 — when thousands of Mormon pioneers emigrated to the area. Arriving in hand carts or wagons pulled by oxen, the company of pioneers made the trek across the vast plains to the site of Utah. Days of ‘47 Inc. states, “This trek of the early Utah pioneers exemplifies the courage, foresight, and faith that continue to inspire modern-day pioneers.” They remember this historical moment through different activities and events throughout the day. The night ends at Utah State Fairpark with the main event: bull riding, which demands much of the same courage as the early pioneers. 

Bull riders go under intense training, both mentally and physically to get to the professional sectors and compete. There are schools and even college programs in the United States which are offered to bull riders. These curriculums teach riders the fundamentals and handles of the sport. They train like any other athletes but their tools are a bit different. They will often practice on a lower-level bucking bull or what they call a buck right. A buck right is similar to a mechanical bull which helps reinforce the basic movements of a bull rider. 

This year on 24 July in Salt Lake City, the Days of ‘47 competition saw TJ Gray of Dairy, Oregon presented with the gold medal for bull riding, after receiving a score of 85.5. Standing beside him, accepting the silver medal was Rawley Johnson of Riri, Idaho who completed the night with a score of 84.0. Hayes Weight was awarded bronze with the highest score of 91.0 from the previous round; however, he failed to qualify in the final round. 

On the night, the bull riders seemed to stand taller than ever before on their respective podiums, imagining what it would be like to have the same honor at the Olympics. However, less than 24 hours before, their dreams became closer than ever when it was announced that Salt Lake City would host the 2034 Winter Olympics. Competing in the Olympics promises to be the ride of a lifetime for many cowboys, even if it is just a short eight seconds. 

Image from Wikimedia Commons