Bethany Hamilton by Andrew H.

 

Anyone you know who is famous, well known or admired, they have probably gone through adversity. They became who they are known to be now probably from hard work and determination. Bethany Hamilton is an example of that, since a traumatic accident happened to her, yet she still overcame it and defied the odds. Even with her disability, she did not give into her injury and continued to do what she was passionate about. And for her that was surfing and competing in competitions. 

Bethany Meilani Hamilton Dirk was born on 2/18/90 in Lihue Hawaii, to parents Tom and Cheri. She was raised in a surfing family; her parents began teaching her how to surf before age 5. She swam competitively at 9 years old, and she also got her first sponsorship at that age. In 1998 she competed in the Rell Sunn Menehune Surfing Champions in Hawaii, She won both the short and long board divisions. Having her first success, she was very eager to become a professional and competitive surfer. Over the years Hamilton steadily rose the ranks in amateur surfing competitions, and she even won several events. “Courage, Sacrifice, determination, commitment, toughness, heart, talent, guts, that’s what little girls are made of the heck with sugar and spice,” said Bethany Hamilton. 

On October 31, 2003, Hamilton and her best friend Alana, her father, and brother went surfing While she was lying on her board, all of a sudden she felt immense pressure on her left arm. Initially she felt no pain; it took her a couple of seconds when she then noticed that the water had turned blood red, and that her left arm was missing. Almost her entire arm had been torn off, so she was quickly rushed to the hospital. About 60% of Bethany’s blood was lost that day and on the way to the hospital she felt numb. Although the doctors said that her chances of survival were slim, Bethany kept fighting for her life. After the incident, Hamilton was left traumatized, but she did not let that stop her. Within only a couple of weeks after the attack Bethany was already starting to surf again, and she had to use a custom board that was thicker and longer and had a handle for her right arm. On January 10th, 2004 Hamilton entered her first ever competition since the shark attack, finally getting back to surfing because she did not let her disability get in the way. Later she wrote an autobiography called Soul Surfer talking about the attack and what happened afterwards.  

Bethany Hamilton’s legacy will live on as someone who has gone through adversity, because she lost something most people can’t live without. According to bethanyhamilton.com, the famouspeople.com, and biography.com, she won the NSSA National Championship in the women’s division and started competing on the pro circuit in 2007. She won the event that year and it wouldn’t be her last. In 2009 Bethany went on the game show “Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader?” She won a 25,000 dollars. In 2011 a feature film Soul Surfer, based on Bethany’s 2004 book, released and she even did all the one armed stunts in the movie. She has written 9 books and was featured in 2 movies. She is involved in numerous charity programs including her own, Friends of Bethany, which reaches out to amputees and youth. She has four different programs in her charity which cover traumatic limb loss, free community gathering events, conference for young women and girls to discover their beauty and self-worth, and a male retreat for men who have lost their limbs and to focus on faith. Overall, Bethany Hamilton has had many achievements in her life.

Overall, Bethany Hamilton had faced adversity and overcame it, most people wouldn’t have been able to do the same after losing a limb. But a missing arm would not stop her passion for surfing. In her life she had many accomplishments and has won many awards.  And she has helped people refund their faith after losing limbs or going through hardship. For all the trauma and all the therapy, she had to receive from her arm, and to get back up and start surfing so quickly, it means she’s determined and believed nothing could stop her from surfing, not even a missing arm. Despite all the adversity she faced in her life she overcame it and came out on top with multiple achievements.