Bareback rider Richmond Champion retires a winner with dominant 90-point final ride at Calgary Stampede

Richmond Champion rode out the way he envisioned it—as a winner. The world-renowned bareback rider scored a sensational 90 points on Sunday at the Calgary Stampede during the last rodeo of his decorated 15-year career.

"You can't write this stuff, you know?" said Champion, fighting back tears after his final ride. "I knew it was pretty slim chances to make it back to Showdown Sunday, so I had pretty full intentions of (Sunday) being the last one. And if it worked out differently, then great. I mean … in a perfect world, you get to be 90 and walk away a winner? I'm barely holding it together."

The 33-year-old cowboy from Stevensville, Montana drew Shadow Warrior, a horse he had won on before—12 years ago at the Denver rodeo. "When I found out I had him, I got thinking that I won Denver on him 12 years ago, and that was the last time I'd been on him," Champion said.

Champion had made the decision to retire right after the Stampede a few months back. He said he'd been questioning his motivation to continue competing, even though he felt physically fine. While teaching clinics in Miles City in March, he found his answer.

"I make sure all my guys that are getting on have a 'why' before they get on, because it's a dangerous sport," Champion said of his safety and technique instruction. "And after that, I got to thinking, what's my why? 'Because it's what I've always done' isn't a good enough answer."

Champion had previously won the Calgary Stampede in both 2017 and 2018, and his finest achievement remains a one-day, $1.1-million haul at The American Rodeo in Dallas when he was just 21. "The Calgary Stampede has just been such a special part of my career," he said. "Anyone can ask me what my favourite rodeo is, and it's a no-brainer."