'So special': Teigan and Alex McKinnon's twin baby joy
Former NRL player Alex McKinnon and wife Teigan have welcomed the arrival of twin girls, Audrey and Violet, born on Monday afternoon.
The pair took to social media on Tuesday to announce the birth of their second and third daughters, having given birth to older sister Harriet two and a half years earlier.
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Born six minutes apart, Audrey and Violet were announced to the world by Teigan on Instagram.
“Two little precious girls have entered the world and have stolen our hearts 26/04/21. 3:13pm and 3:19pm," she posted.
“Audrey Jill McKinnon 2.5kgs & length 48cm.
“Violet John McKinnon 2.4kgs & length 47.5cm.”
McKinnon, 29, discussed the arrival of his twin daughters with the Daily Telegraph, on Tuesday.
“Teigan was her typical brilliant self — brave, strong and just amazing,” he said.
“It’s just so special and again I’m so thankful that Teigan and the girls are all doing so well.’’
The 29-year-old McKinnon played 49 NRL games for Newcastle, before his career was tragically cut short after a tackle gone wrong against the Melbourne Storm left him a quadriplegic.
The couple remained together throughout, marrying in 2017 before giving birth to eldest daughter Harriet in 2018.
After finding out about the twins last year, McKinnon said he and Teigan were left slightly stunned and overwhelmed by the news.
"We're extremely grateful - with a million different emotions," Alex said.
"I'm still trying to get my head around all that stuff like two baby seats, two cots, two high chairs… it's amazing how the rollercoaster of life works.
"I'm an only child and so we always wanted a big family. I guess we've got our wish, that's for sure."
Mitchell vows to lead over online abuse
NRL superstar Latrell Mitchell has vowed to continue to report racist trolls to police, hoping the arrest of two men last week can be a line-in-the-sand moment.
Mitchell spoke powerfully at a media conference on Monday, declaring he wants to be remembered as "more than just a rugby league player".
Prepared to be an Indigenous leader, he revealed he'd been racially abused since age eight and admitted he'd been left exhausted by constant taunts online.
But the 23-year-old now wants to create change, sick of exposing online trolls by sharing their abuse and now encouraging others to go straight to police.
The South Sydney fullback wants a system where players can forward abusive messages to a go-to person at the NRL who can send details to police.
"I had to find the courage (to speak up)," Mitchell said.
"I've been copping this all my life since I was an eight-year-old kid. My ancestors before me have and nothing's changed.
"I've always aired them out on social media as everyone has seen and I think that's what they wanted to get a kick out of.
"(The arrest) is an outcome that I've wanted for a very long time for people to be accountable for their actions and their words."
With AAP
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