Tony Hawk Walks Unaided Nine Days After Accident
Tony Hawk is back walking unaided just nine days after sustaining a horrific leg break.
The skateboarding veteran snapped his femur last week and said the injury would be the 'biggest test' of his creed - namely that he won't stop skating until he is physically unable to.
He subsequently said that his only objective for the time being was to be able to walk unaided again, adding that 'whatever comes after that will be a bonus'.
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Well, the 53-year-old has already ticked off that objective off in no time, posting a short video on Twitter in which he can be seen hobbling along unassisted.
Along with the update, Hawk revealed he is now aiming to get back on the board for his 54th birthday.
He said: "Day nine. My goal is to be skating at our Weekend Jam in Vegas on May 12; it will be the best birthday present ever."
Explaining how he picked up the nasty injury, Hawk said he was attempting a McTwist (a front flip with a 540-degree rotation) but had 'very little speed and an unsteady grab' and ended up crashing down on the halfpipe.
Speaking to TMZ Sports, he said: "I hit the wall sooner than expected in a half-squat position and it sent me straight to the flat onto my knees.
Day nine. My goal is to be skating at our Weekend Jam in Vegas on May 12; it will be the best birthday present ever.
— Tony Hawk (@tonyhawk) March 17, 2022
🛹🦿🎉 pic.twitter.com/vAsXuiHScB
"The force of my body position upon impact broke my front leg as I came sliding to a stop."
The veteran skateboarder said he then had to 'manoeuvre' his leg back into place while he waited for an ambulance, before immediately undergoing surgery in hospital.
Announcing the devastating injury on Instagram last Wednesday (9 March), Hawk wrote: "Yesterday sucked.
"I broke my elbow 20 years ago and managed to make a full comeback; this recovery for a broken femur will be much harder because of its severity (and my age). But I'm up for the challenge."
Hawk noted the irony of the injury occurring the night before HBO dropped the trailer for documentary Until The Wheels Fall Off.
The doc will take a look inside Hawk's life and career, focusing on how he still continues to skate at his age.
Looking forward, he remains as determined as ever - but he's resigned to the fact he may never be quite the same again.
He wrote: "There is a strange irony that this happened on the eve of HBO releasing a trailer for Until The Wheels Fall Off, Sam Jones' documentary about my life & career, which has a strong focus on the philosophy of how I/we do this at our age.
"The answer is complicated, but ultimately it's because I have found my sense of purpose and shaped my identity through skating, and it nourishes my mental health immensely.
"I've said many times that I won't stop skating until I am physically unable. A broken leg - with plenty of hardware - will probably be the biggest test of that creed.
"I'll be back… maybe not at full capacity but I resigned to that notion years ago as I approached 'mid-life'.
"Thanks to my unyieldingly supportive, tolerant family - and all of you - for the love and support through the years; I wouldn't be here without you. See you on the other side."
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Jake Massey