“Broke My Back”: American Skateboarding Legend Spills Harrowing Details of Life-Changing Incident

Published 08/25/2023, 12:56 PM EDT

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If there is anything in life that you desire, You got to take risk.” The risk constituent is present in every action that one intends to do. However, in the arena of sports, risk is a common factor that every athlete is supposed to take. If risk had to be synonymous with a person, Ryan Sheckler would have accomplished that name.  

Ryan Sheckler is an American skateboarding legend who is well known for his MTV Television series “Life Of Ryan.” Since he is a professional skateboarder, risking his life becomes an essential element of his sports to accomplish the best. After breaking several bones and tearing the ligaments, the athlete finally spoke up about when he started questioning if the risks were worth it. 

The skateboarding legend questions the worth of risks 

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Ryan Sheckler is one of the most prominent names in the skateboarding field. He is a three-time gold medalist at X Games and has secured many more titles in skateboarding. With numerous titles, the skateboarder endured numerous injuries as well. He is not afraid of trying new techniques but that always comes with the consequences of injuries. In a recent interview on 24th August 2023, Ryan opened up about his injuries with Men’s Journal Magazine and stated the details. He said, “I broke my back, left foot, left ankle, right ankle,” and described many more injuries that he sustained. 

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However, in the live session with ETN’s Face Melters, Ryan broke both his ankles and fractured his L1 Vertebrae which became his worst fall of all. Ryan stated, “That was the only fall that made me question, however slightly, what I’ve decided to do with my life. And it made me question whether or not this is worth it.” After enduring such a gnarly injury, Ryan underwent surgery and ended up in a wheelchair. But with the help of experts and doctors, the skateboarding champ was given the proper treatment that he required and became healthy once more. The athlete made a great learning from this journey of falling and growing. 

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Ryan Sheckler philosophizing his learning from the falls 

The 33-year-old has a long list of injuries which include breaking the left foot, left ankle, right ankle twice, left elbow four times, right elbow three times, torn ligaments, and many more. But his worst fall was during the live session of ETN’s Face Melters. Despite all the pain he suffered to accomplish his dreams, his love for skateboarding did not reduce. And the skateboarder never took the injuries in a pessimistic sense. Ryan states, “Now I’m 33. I’ve been skateboarding for 31 years and professionally for two decades. There’s wisdom and intuition that comes with all of those injuries.

Read More: Teenage High School Soccer Player’s Life Ends in a Tragic Skateboarding Accident

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There were rumors and hoaxes about Ryan Sheckler’s death after he was addicted to alcohol. But it was nothing more than just gossip. The skateboarding prodigy is alive and very well. The champion overcame all his struggles and became an inspiration for millions of skateboarding lovers.

Watch This Story: “Not until the first time” a 10-year-old Canadian prodigy turns their head in the skateboarding world with the tony hawk as her mentor.

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Written by:

Sheikh Ayesha

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Sheikh Ayesha is a US Sports writer for EssentiallySports. She is a sports enthusiast and has a penchant for covering American sporting events. Ayesha comes with a staunch experience in content writing and takes an avid interest in Alpine skiing and swimming.
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