Lachlan Coleman competes in Las Vegas Rodeo
Goomeri cowboy Lachlan Coleman is bucking his way into the rodeo history books, taking Aussie pride to the USA and making his way to his goal of being in the Top 15.
Gympie
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Australia’s up-and-coming rodeo superstar Lachlan Coleman is making waves in the United States.
The Goomeri teen and former Gympie State High student is living in Las Vegas, Nevada, on a full scholarship at Odessa College for Rodeos where he is majoring in welding.
The 18-year-old moved to Las Vegas in August 2021, and has not looked back.
“He’ll be over there for a few years”, his sister, Jessica Coleman, told The Gympie Times.
Since he was 14 he has been coached by the one and only David Mawhinney, who has won more than 40 world champion awards and holds three world titles.
Mr Coleman just competed in the Junior World Finals in the USA, coming in at a strong eighth place in the saddle bronc riding category, and has plans for many more competitions.
“He’s done a few rodeos over there. He can’t work for his first year over there so rodeos are his only source of income,” Ms Coleman said.
“To qualify for the rodeo in Las Vegas, where he is now, he had to compete in the Australian World Junior Qualifiers Rodeo down in Bundarra, which is in New South Wales where he won four out of the five rounds.”
By placing so highly in the Bundarra Rodeo, Mr Coleman secured his spot in the Junior World Finals in Las Vegas.
“He’s competing in rodeos almost every weekend or every second weekend,” his sister said.
“In five years he wants to be doing the national finals rodeo and he’ll need to be top 15 in the world to qualify. That’s his goal.”
For now, the 18 year old is living it up in the USA and is focusing on sightseeing and working on helping Americans understand the Australian accent.
“He’s had a few lost-in-translation moments since getting there,” his sister said. “They don’t quite understand his accent.”
Before moving to the USA, Mr Coleman worked at Nolan Meats and was the youngest work group leader in the boning room.
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