Exclusive | Tony Hawk says brutal injury taught him a lesson he wishes he’d learned decades earlier

Nypost · Aug 15, 2026 · 676 words · By Allie Yang

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What to know about Health and Fitness

Tony Hawk says brutal injury taught him a lesson he wishes he’d learned decades earlier See more of our coverage in your search results.

Claims checked 7

Techniques found 1

Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left20%

Center60%

Right20%

5 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Tony Hawk says brutal injury taught him a lesson he wishes he’d learned decades earlier See more of our coverage in your search results.

Why it matters

Add The New York Post on Google The devastating injury that changed Tony Hawk‘s perspective on fitness could’ve been avoided, he told The Post, had he made the choices he’s making now.

Common ground

“I am working out at least two times a week and that is not something I did, to be honest, until I hit my 50s and I probably would have benefited from it much sooner,” said the legendary skateboarder, who’s now 58.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Health and Fitness story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that breaking his femur in 2022?
How does this story connect Health and Fitness with Aging and Wellness over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/08/15/health/tony-hawk-the-brutal-injury-that-taught-me-…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 1 propaganda technique in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 80% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 7 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 4

verified Verified 2

verified Verified By Reference 1

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Claim 1: “breaking his femur in 2022”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent web sources confirm Tony Hawk broke his femur in 2022.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Anthony Frank Hawk (born May 12, 1968), nicknamed Birdman, is an American professional skateboarder, entrepreneur, and the owner of the skateboard company Birdhouse. A pioneer of modern vertical skate…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Hawk

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Tony Hawk's Pro Skater is a series of skateboarding video games published by Activision and endorsed by the American professional skateboarder of the same name. From 1999 to 2007, the series was prima…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Hawk's

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, released as Tony Hawk's Skateboarding in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and parts of Europe, is a 1999 skateboarding video game developed by Neversoft and publishe…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Hawk's_Pro_Skater

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 2: “In March 2022, Hawk was attempting a McTwist — a 540 degree turn in the air — when he fell and snapped his right femur.”

CORROBORATED

Three independent web sources confirm the specific details: March 2022, attempting a McTwist (540 degree turn), and snapping his right femur.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Aerials (or more commonly airs) are a type of skateboarding trick usually performed on half-pipes, pools or quarter pipes where there is a vertical wall with a transition (curved surface linking the w…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerial_(skateboarding)

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+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 3: “partnered with Qunol for their Move Like a Champion campaign”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent sources (The AI Journal, Yahoo Shopping, and other web results) confirm the partnership with Qunol for the 'Move Like a Champion' campaign.

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web search NEUTRAL — Hawk continued to detail what the “Move Like a Champion” is all about and details that there are prizes that can be won such as a signed Tony Hawk skateboard, Birdhouse apparel, a YEPA helmet, Qunol® …
https://heavy.com/sports/tony-hawk-update-pro-skater-game/

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web search NEUTRAL — Through Move Like a Champion, Qunol® and Hawk are inspiring people to find what moves them and stay active for the moments that matter most.Anchored by Tony Hawk, the integrated campaign will come to …
https://aijourn.com/qunol-and-tony-hawk-celebrate-the-power-…

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web search NEUTRAL — We asked Tony Hawk — who has partnered with Qunol to promote its Move Like a Champion campaign — about the green tea, pens, and bandages he can't live without. His signature marker.
https://shopping.yahoo.com/health/nutrition/articles/tony-ha…

verified

Claim 4: “the legendary skateboarder, who’s now 58”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

Wikipedia confirms Tony Hawk was born on May 12, 1968. Based on the current date (2024/2025), he is 56 or 57, but the provided evidence from Flipboard and web search explicitly refers to him as 'at 58'. Given the Wikipedia birth date, he turns 57 in May 2025. However, multiple current web sources explicitly state he is 58.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 is a 2001 skateboarding video game developed by Vicarious Visions and published by Activision for the Game Boy Advance (GBA) handheld game console. It is a portable version of…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Hawk's_Pro_Skater_2_(GBA_…

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+ 4 more evidence sources

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Claim 5: “Generally, a surgeon needs to realign the bone and set it in position with a metal rod through the center.”

VERIFIED

Medical sources confirm that surgical treatment for femur fractures (ORIF) involves realigning the bone and often using a metallic rod (intramedullary nail) through the center of the bone.

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web search NEUTRAL — Femur fracture surgery, or ORIF, is performed to realign and stabilise the broken thigh bone. Here is a step-by-step guide to what you might expect during this surgical procedure
https://www.pristyncare.com/treatment/femur-fracture/

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web search NEUTRAL — Femur fracture fixation involves surgically stabilizing broken thigh bones, often using rods, plates, screws, or pins, with the goal of restoring alignment and promoting healing. #fracturefixation #me…
https://www.tiktok.com/discover/what-is-a-femur-bone-fractur…

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web search NEUTRAL — Femur Fracture Treatment. Femoral fractures can either be treated operatively or non-operatively.This procedure involves the insertion of a metallic rod designed for such a purpose into the cavity of …
https://www.yashodahospitals.com/blog/femur-fractures-types-…

verified

Claim 6: “A femur fracture... requires surgery to correct and takes months to heal from.”

VERIFIED

Medical evidence from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and other medical sources confirms that femur shaft fractures almost always require surgery and typically take four to six months to heal.

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web search NEUTRAL — Learn about intertrochanteric femur fracture, its causes, symptoms, surgery, recovery time, and treatment options for faster healing.
https://orthodrhimanshugupta.com/what-is-an-intertrochanteri…

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web search NEUTRAL — The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons explains that femur shaft fractures almost always require surgical fixation because of the bone’s size and load-bearing role.
https://aguiarinjurylawyers.com/car-accident-injuries/femur-…

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web search NEUTRAL — Broken femurs, or femoral fractures, are common injuries treated by orthopedic surgeons.Femur Fracture Recovery Time. Broken femurs heal within a period of four to six months after the surgery. The fi…
https://www.yashodahospitals.com/blog/femur-fractures-types-…

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Claim 7: “Hawk had to go through this twice.”

CORROBORATED

Tony Hawk is quoted in the evidence stating he had a 'false start' and a 'non-union fracture' where the bone didn't connect, implying the need for repeated surgical intervention/correction.

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web search NEUTRAL — Tony Hawk: Harnessing Passion, Drive & Persistence for Lifelong Success.I had a super long recovery, I had a false start. I had a non-union fracture, which means my bone never connected back to itself…
https://podclips.com/ct/30Vzhq

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web search NEUTRAL — full step by step guid for making a modified Thomas splint to fix femoral fracture. … ещё.Femur bone Fracture #fracture #thomas splint #puppy #doglover #dog #doberman.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vsw4LY4-Z30

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web search NEUTRAL — Tony Hawk is on the mend after breaking his femur on Monday. The legendary skateboarder took to Instagram on Tuesday to share a few snapshots from the hospital, as well as a pic of his x-ray, showing …
https://www.etonline.com/tony-hawk-reveals-he-broke-his-femu…

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.