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Bethany HamiltonAmerican surfer
Date of Birth: 08.02.1990
Country:  USA |
Content:
Bethany Hamilton Biography
Bethany Meilani Hamilton was born in 1990 in Hawaii. Surfing was a passion for the entire Hamilton family, including her parents and both of her brothers. It was no surprise that Bethany started riding a board at a young age. At the age of eight, she began participating in serious surfing competitions and consistently achieved impressive results.
A Life-Changing Event
On October 13, 2003, Bethany's life took a drastic turn. While surfing early in the morning off the north coast of Kauai, a 15-foot tiger shark attacked the thirteen-year-old, resulting in the loss of her left arm up to the shoulder. Despite losing approximately 60% of her blood and being hospitalized, Bethany miraculously survived the horrifying ordeal.
Overcoming Adversity
Following the incident, it seemed that Bethany's athletic career was over. Her parents, traumatized by what had happened, and Bethany herself, who narrowly escaped death, didn't even consider the possibility. The doctors focused on saving her life rather than discussing a future in sports. However, the miracles didn't end with her recovery.
Just three weeks after the attack, Bethany was back on a surfboard, and within ten weeks, she resumed her training. She had to learn everything from scratch since the absence of her arm rendered her previous skills obsolete. Nevertheless, the determined athlete was undeterred and continued to train relentlessly.
A Remarkable Comeback
After some time, a special board was developed for the miracle athlete, making it easier for her to paddle with just one arm. In addition, Bethany Hamilton desired to compete on equal terms, disregarding her disability. Her efforts paid off, and starting from 2004, she repeatedly reached the finals of competitions and won several times.
In 2004, the inspiring athlete with an extraordinary will to win was awarded the "ESPY Award for Best Comeback Athlete of the Year" for her incredible return. That same year, she received the "Teen Choice Awards" prize. In 2007, a documentary film titled "Heart of a Soul Surfer" was made based on Bethany Hamilton's story.
