Post on 23-May-2020
Breakfast with Bethany, featuring Bethany Hamilton
Bethany Hamilton Bio
Bethany Hamilton has become a source of inspiration to millions through her story of faith, determination, health and hope. Born into a family of surfers on February 8, 1990, on the island of Kauai, Hawaii, Bethany began surfing at a young age. At the age of eight, Bethany entered her first surf competition, where she won both the short and long board divisions. This sparked a love for surf competition within her spirit.
At the age of thirteen, Bethany was attacked by a 14-‐foot tiger shark while surfing off Kauai’s North Shore. The attack left Bethany with a severed left arm. After losing over 60% of her blood, and making it through several surgeries without infection, Bethany was on her way to recovery with an unbelievably positive attitude. Lifeguards and doctors believe her strong water sense and faith in God helped get her through the traumatic ordeal.
Miraculously, just one month after the attack, Bethany returned to the water to pursue her goal to become a professional surfer. In January 2004, Bethany made her return to surf competition; placing 5th in the Open Women’s division of that contest. Just over a year after the attack she took 1st place in the Explorer Women’s division of the 2005 NSSA National Championships winning her first National Title. In 2007, Bethany realized her dream and turned pro.
Since losing her arm, Bethany's story has been told in hundreds of media outlets and she has been recognized with numerous awards, public appearances, and various speaking engagements. In October 2004, Bethany shared her life story in her autobiography entitled Soul Surfer, which was later made into a major motion picture. Other books Bethany has written include Devotions for the Soul Surfer, Rise Above, Ask Bethany, and Clash, Burned, Storm, and Crunch. Further, Bethany was the inspiration behind Becky Baumgartner's 2007 documentary entitled Heart of a Soul Surfer.
Bethany has grown from a young teenage girl with aspirations of becoming a professional surfer into a twenty-‐year old professional surfer with aspirations of becoming a beacon of inspiration and hope. Through the platform of professional sport, Bethany has been able to touch a large number of people with her message, charitable efforts, and overall spirit. Bethany just launched her own foundation, Friends of Bethany, which supports shark attack survivors, traumatic amputees, and serves to inspire others through her life story, and is involved in numerous other charitable efforts.