To celebrate its 30 years of history, the PBR compiled a list of the top 30 competitors of all time who participated in the championship. The list was gradually revealed over the past few weeks and was completed this Thursday.
Two-time world champion Justin McBride has been chosen as the Greatest Competitor of all time, claiming the number 1 position on the list ahead of Tuff Hedeman and Jim Sharp.
The list was internally created by the PBR, without direct voting from competitors or fans. The criteria for composing the list were not disclosed, but it is believed that aside from titles, the significance of each athlete’s career in PBR history played a role.
McBride being at the top of the list is hardly surprising, as the American is undoubtedly one of the greatest talents the sport has ever seen, with an unparalleled career in PBR even though he retired from riding at the age of 29.
In addition to his two world titles achieved in 2005 and 2007, in two of the greatest campaigns in history, he was also the first athlete to surpass the $5 million mark in earnings, surpassed only by J.B. Mauney, Silvano Alves, José Vitor Leme, and Guilherme Marchi.
He also holds the record for the most wins in PBR history, with 32 event victories, tied with Mauney, and also the record for most wins in a single season, equaled by Leme in 2021.
However, many believed that due to his popularity among fans, the number 1 spot would go to J.B. Mauney – who landed in the 9th position on the list – or even the three-time world champion Adriano Moraes – who secured the 4th position.
Without an established criterion, the list presents divergences, leaving out athletes who had significant careers in PBR, including others who had strong reputations outside of PBR and not as victorious careers within it. Moreover, the list’s rankings omitted names such as Silvano Alves, Ty Murray, and Guilherme Marchi from the Top 10.
