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Every December, the top rodeo athletes in the world head to Las Vegas for their “Super Bowl,” the National Finals Rodeo. The top 15 contestants in each event compete over ten rounds of competition for the chance to call themselves a World Champion and write their name in the history books.

However, like many professional sports, their quest for greatness can come with a laundry list of injuries. The physicality it takes to perform at a high level throughout the NFR is rigorous, and there are no days off. Injuries can and do happen, especially for athletes in the roughstock events.

So, how do they stay in the game? That’s where the Justin Sports Medicine Team comes in.

“Everybody is focused on being at the top of their game,” said 30 year team veteran Dr. Tandy Freeman. “Not only the athletes, but the physicians too.”

In 1980, Dr. J Pat Evans and Don Andrews developed the concept of a mobile sports medicine system that would provide medical support services to professional rodeo athletes at arenas where they competed across the country. This network provides contestants access to a robust medical team including emergency physicians, orthopedists, trauma specialists, athletic trainers, physical therapists and physician assistants, as well as hospitals and clinics around the nation to provide comprehensive medical coverage.

While under the bright lights of Las Vegas, contestants have access to the Justin Sports Medicine Team throughout the entirety of the NFR. Injury reports are published daily, documenting the injuries of the contestants and providing updates on their status.

With a round win earning a contestant just shy of $34,000 each night, staying in the game is critical.

Dr. Freeman says Justin Sports Medicine Team’s support of rodeo athletes does not stop after the NFR is over.

“The program covers around 120 rodeos a year. We have several hundred people throughout the country who volunteer with the program and another 12-15 athletic trainers who go to numerous rodeos throughout the rodeos,” said Dr. Freeman.

By his estimates, the team serves nearly 3,000 rodeo athletes each year.

Listen to our conversation with Dr. Tandy Freeman here:

Broadcasters Rebel Sjeklocha and Tyler Cavalli pictured with Dr. Tandy Freeman in the media room at the 2024 National Finals Rodeo.

2024-12-13 19:29:27

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Every December, the top rodeo athletes in the world head to Las Vegas for their “Super Bowl,” the National Finals Rodeo. The top 15 contestants in each event compete over ten rounds of competition for the chance to call themselves a World Champion and write their name in the history books.

However, like many professional sports, their quest for greatness can come with a laundry list of injuries. The physicality it takes to perform at a high level throughout the NFR is rigorous, and there are no days off. Injuries can and do happen, especially for athletes in the roughstock events.

So, how do they stay in the game? That’s where the Justin Sports Medicine Team comes in.

“Everybody is focused on being at the top of their game,” said 30 year team veteran Dr. Tandy Freeman. “Not only the athletes, but the physicians too.”

In 1980, Dr. J Pat Evans and Don Andrews developed the concept of a mobile sports medicine system that would provide medical support services to professional rodeo athletes at arenas where they competed across the country. This network provides contestants access to a robust medical team including emergency physicians, orthopedists, trauma specialists, athletic trainers, physical therapists and physician assistants, as well as hospitals and clinics around the nation to provide comprehensive medical coverage.

While under the bright lights of Las Vegas, contestants have access to the Justin Sports Medicine Team throughout the entirety of the NFR. Injury reports are published daily, documenting the injuries of the contestants and providing updates on their status.

With a round win earning a contestant just shy of $34,000 each night, staying in the game is critical.

Dr. Freeman says Justin Sports Medicine Team’s support of rodeo athletes does not stop after the NFR is over.

“The program covers around 120 rodeos a year. We have several hundred people throughout the country who volunteer with the program and another 12-15 athletic trainers who go to numerous rodeos throughout the rodeos,” said Dr. Freeman.

By his estimates, the team serves nearly 3,000 rodeo athletes each year.

Listen to our conversation with Dr. Tandy Freeman here:

Broadcasters Rebel Sjeklocha and Tyler Cavalli pictured with Dr. Tandy Freeman in the media room at the 2024 National Finals Rodeo.

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