- He was a rising NRL star with the Newcastle Knights
- A tackle that went wrong left him quadriplegic
- Now you have celebrated a huge new achievement with your loved ones.
Former NRL star Alex McKinnon has shared touching photos of himself accompanied by his family and partner as he celebrated a life-changing event.
McKinnon has officially graduated from Newcastle University with a degree in Psychological Science, 10 years after a horror tackle ended his football dreams and life as he knew it.
The 32-year-old was a promising NRL player for the Newcastle Knights until his career came to a tragic end on March 24, 2014.
The Knights forward suffered a serious spinal injury during a match against the Melbourne Storm in a tackle that went wrong, resulting in fractures to his C4 and C5 vertebrae.
That injury left him with quadriplegia at only 22 years old.
In 2015, McKinnon became engaged to his long-term partner, Teigan Power, and they married in 2017. The couple had three children, Harriet Ann and twins Audrey and Violet, but their marriage broke up in 2022.
McKinnon is pictured with his girlfriend Lily Malone, who arrived with a large bouquet of flowers to congratulate her boyfriend on graduating from college.
McKinnon was a promising NRL player with the Newcastle Knights until his accident in 2014.
However, McKinnon found new love with Lily Malone, 22, and the pair confirmed their romance in March.
Malone, McKinnon’s eldest daughter Harriet Ann, and parents Scott and Kate were by her side at her graduation, and Lily posted “Proud is an understatement” along with a love heart emoji.
McKinnon posted ‘who would have thought’ with a graduation cap emoji in a post that was liked and commented on by a host of NRL stars and loved ones.
“Well done mate,” posted former St. George Illawarra Dragons player Jake Marketo.
‘Congratulations mate! Impressive effort,” added former Knights star Billy Peden.
“Going to college has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made in my life,” McKinnon previously said.
‘One of the biggest frustrations when I was injured was that I had spent my entire life, 22 years, trying to perfect myself as an athlete to compete.
And when all that is taken away from you, it destroys your soul. Not only do you lose your identity, but all that hard work you’ve put in is now worthless.
McKinnon is all smiles as she receives her Bachelor of Science in Psychological Science degree.
McKinnon celebrates her graduation with her oldest daughter Harriet Ann and her parents Scott and Kate.
‘Sure, I learned lessons along the way, but all those tools I learned, I can’t use them anymore. Basically, you have to start over.”
Following his injury in 2014, McKinnon underwent extensive rehabilitation to regain limited mobility and independence.
The NRL launched the Rise for Alex campaign in 2014, raising funds to support his continued care and recovery.
Determined to make a difference, McKinnon became an advocate for spinal injury awareness and worked to raise funds for medical research and rehabilitation services.
McKinnon remained connected with rugby league and joined the Newcastle Knights’ recruiting and training staff to contribute off the field.
In 2020, he published his autobiography, Unbroken, in which he shares his story of injury, recovery, and resilience.
He has also participated in public lectures and charity events, using his experiences to inspire others.
McKinnon continues to advocate for spinal research and remains an active figure in the rugby league community.