From: hubermanlab
Tony Hawk, a legend in the realm of skateboarding, continues to inspire not only through his incredible feats on the board but also through his remarkable resilience in overcoming injuries. A particularly notable event in his career was his recovery from a significant injury that many would consider career-ending: a complete break of his femur while performing a McTwist — one of his iconic tricks — on the halfpipe.
The Injury and Its Aftermath
In a conversation with Andrew Huberman, Hawk detailed the injury, which occurred during a routine attempt of the McTwist — a 540-degree spin — a move he has performed thousands of times over his career. Unfortunately, during this attempt, he had “zero speed” and ended “tangled up” leading to the severe injury [00:01:16].
This injury marked a significant setback, not only physically but also mentally and emotionally. It was described as a non-union fracture — a scenario where the broken bone ends never heal together, which eventually led to a second surgery to properly align the bone biomechanics and injury prevention [01:01:07].
Major Setback
Hawk emphasized it wasn’t just the initial impact of the injury, but the unexpected prolonged pain and challenges that came from a misguided attempt at an accelerated recovery importance of recovery [00:59:39].
The Recovery Process
Following the necessary surgery, Hawk embarked on a focused and disciplined recovery journey. This time, he adhered strictly to medical advice, which included being non-weight bearing on the injured leg for two full months to allow the bone to properly heal importance of recovery [01:02:13].
His recovery process also included a rigorous regimen aimed at rehabilitating his body, including physical therapy strategies and a disciplined approach to nutrition and rest. Importantly, Hawk detailed his work with a physical therapist who specialized in complex recoveries such as his, helping him regain mobility and strength rehabilitation and mobility recovery [01:07:56].
Return to Skateboarding
The rigorous effort paid off as Tony Hawk made a remarkable return to skateboarding, culminating in him revisiting the McTwist — the very trick that had caused his injury. This was not merely a recovery but a triumph over what had once seemed like an insurmountable obstacle. Hawk performed the trick successfully, marking a pivotal moment in his comeback story and in the annals of professional skateboarding overcoming adversity [00:55:06].
Reflections on Resilience
Reflecting on the journey, Hawk conveyed a sense of humility and deep personal drive. He stressed that the motivation to rehabilitate and return to skating at a high level wasn’t driven by external pressures or a need to prove anything to others, but rather an intrinsic desire to confront the challenge for himself personal development and self-identity [00:54:03].
Personal Drive
Hawk’s comeback was deeply personal, anchored in a relentless inner determination to overcome the limitations imposed by his injury and to continue doing what he loves most: skateboarding importance of personal drive [00:54:26].
Tony Hawk’s journey of recovery and return to form stands as a powerful narrative on the importance of resilience, proper recovery practices, and the unyielding pursuit of personal passion overcoming adversity. His story is inspirational not only to athletes but to anyone facing setbacks, illustrating that determination and proper management can turn adversities into triumphs coping with change and adversity.