Lucas Teodoro “LT” has spent a lifetime proving that instinct, faith and consistency can take you anywhere — all the way from the bullfighting pens of Brazil to the biggest stages in professional bull riding.
Born and raised in Pinhal, São Paulo, Brazil, Teodoro first dreamed of riding bulls. But around age 13, everything changed when he met a bullfighter who invited him into the arena and offered to help teach him. Teodoro started going to weekend jackpots near his hometown, helping out however he could just to stay close to the action. Once he stepped into that world, he was hooked. For the next three years, he studied the craft, practiced relentlessly and learned what it meant to protect riders in the arena.
At 16, Teodoro worked his first rodeo as a professional bullfighter, launching a career that would span more than a decade in Brazil before bringing him to the United States. After building his name on the Brazilian rodeo scene and working PBR Brazil events, Teodoro chased the dream he had carried since he was young: fighting bulls in America. He began taking English classes to prepare for the move, first traveling to the United States in late 2012 before eventually settling in Texas full-time in 2015.
In the years since, Teodoro has become one of the most respected members of the United States Border Patrol Safety Team, bringing experience, calm and athleticism to one of the toughest jobs in Western sports. Widely recognized as the first Brazilian bullfighter to work PBR events in the United States, he has helped pave the way for others while building an accomplished résumé of his own, including six appearances at the PBR World Finals and two appearances at the PBR Velocity Tour Finals.
Teodoro approaches bullfighting with the same discipline he brings to every part of life. He trains three to four times a week with functional and CrossFit-style workouts, says a prayer in the arena before and after every performance, and leans on faith to stay grounded when the pressure is highest. His mindset is simple: trust the preparation, react without hesitation and never overthink a job that demands split-second instincts.
That preparation has helped him endure the physical toll of the profession. Over the years, Teodoro has battled through a broken arm, a bull horn driven into his leg that required surgery, and lingering knee and thumb issues that come with the job. Even so, he has remained steady, reliable and deeply committed to his teammates, embracing the family atmosphere that defines the locker room.
Away from the arena, Teodoro is a husband and father of two who values family above everything. He and his wife, Ingrid, are raising their children, Gabriel and Giovanna, in Texas, where Teodoro also enjoys horses, fishing and spending time outdoors. He carries his Bible in his bag, drinks black coffee — including coffee from his own family’s brand — and prefers a clean meal like steak, fish, rice and vegetables when the weekend winds down.
Nicknamed “LT” and known in Brazil as “Gaúcho,” Teodoro has built a career on perseverance, humility and passion for the sport. From a teenage kid learning in practice pens in Brazil to one of the top bullfighters in the world, his journey is a testament to where hard work and heart can lead.