Surfing is in Bethany Hamilton’s blood. When Hamilton lost her left arm to a tiger shark while surfing in Hawaii in 2003, she was just 13 years old and on the verge of losing her life and potentially her career. The incident generated national and international headlines, but Hamilton’s fortitude and resolve to continue surfing professionally in spite of losing her arm made even more attention. Hamilton’s tale inspired millions of people, who looked to her as an example of bravery, hope, and never giving up on your aspirations. Hamilton became a media star.
Hamilton’s life was profoundly altered by the horrifying shark attack. She has since accomplished amazing things, including having a successful professional surfing career that she continues to this day. Even after 20 years, people are still moved by Hamilton’s story, and today, in addition to confronting waves, she is also juggling her responsibilities as a wife and mother. Here is a glimpse at the committed surfer’s life following the shark attack and her recent activities.
A closer look at what happened on the day Hamilton lost her arm to a shark
On October 31, 2003, Bethany Hamilton, then 13 years old, went surfing in the Hawaiian waves off the North Shore of Kauai with her best friend Alana Blanchard and Alana’s father. When a shark approached and attacked Hamilton, she was resting on her surfboard with her left arm hanging in the sea. Hamilton’s left arm was bit off by the shark, which it was later discovered was a 14-foot-long tiger shark. Hamilton managed to reach land, and Alana’s father immediately put a tourniquet on her arm. When she was hurried to the hospital, she had lost 60% of her blood. Doctors told CBS News that Hamilton’s athleticism and capacity for dealing with such a significant blood loss allowed her to survive the situation.
Before the incident, Hamilton was already becoming well-known in the surf community. According to CBS News, she was sponsored and had taken home two women’s division surfing tournament victories. After the incident, some had doubts about her pro surfing prospects. But she would disprove their claims. Years later, she saw the incident as an unexpected godsend. In retrospect, she told CNN, “I see all the beauty and good that has come from losing my arm that I wouldn’t change life to be how I think it should be, but rather just embracing life as it is.”
Bethany’s story was made into a movie
Based on Bethany Hamilton’s autobiography of the same name, which was published in 2004, the movie “Soul Surfer” was produced in 2011. Hamilton was portrayed by actress AnnaSophia Robb, best known for her work in “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and “The Carrie Diaries.” In actuality, Robb’s request to represent her came from Hamilton. The surfer stated in an interview, “She was actually my recommendation. She visited me in Hawaii, and my surf coach and I taught her how to surf, so she at least appeared to know what she was doing! We are now pretty close friends. The actors Dennis Quaid and Helen Hunt, as well as Kevin Sorbo and Carrie Underwood, played Hamilton’s parents in the film.
Hamilton expressed her satisfaction with the movie’s outcome and how realistically it depicted the day she lost her arm to the shark in an interview with the Santa Monica Mirror. She did, however, voice her disgust with the sensationalization of the terrible disaster by the media. The professional surfer admitted that working with the media could be difficult but added, “I wouldn’t have been able to communicate my personal experience without the media.” The documentary “Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppable,” which Hamilton published in 2018, showed how her accident had an impact on more than just her surfing career.
Hamilton became a professional surfer
If Bethany Hamilton wanted to fulfil her aspirations of becoming a professional surfer, she had to acquire a new technique for riding the waves. It’s a question of your entire body composition, she told Surfer Magazine. I wasn’t particularly skilled at making lengthy frontside turns for a time. It was okay once I gave it more thought and effort. You could certainly accomplish practically anything with surfing if you had no arms. Your head, shoulders, and hips are all involved.
Two years after the assault, according to Hamilton’s biography, she won both the O’Neill Island Girl Junior Pro and the NSSA National Championship: 18-and-under.
Hamilton entered his first competition as a full-time surfer at the age of 18. She finished third at the Australian Roxy Pro in 2008; in 2014, she won the Surf N Sea Pipeline Pro. Hamilton participated in the Fiji Pro Women’s competition in 2016 as a wildcard surfer. She finished third and defeated Tyler Wright, the top-ranked female surfer in the world, according to The Washington Post.
Hamilton is still surfing today, and according to her biography, she finished ninth in the women’s division of the Billabong Pipeline Pro in 2022.
Hamilton was inducted into the Surfers’ Hall of Fame
Bethany Hamilton was admitted to the Surfers’ Hall of Fame in August 2017. The Daily Pilot said that the elite surfer imprinted her name, hands, and feet in cement outside the Huntington Surf and Sport store in Huntington Beach, California, along with the words “Always Hope.” “Hope is such a fundamental thing you need in life to get beyond difficult situations,” Hamilton said during her speech. My hope has been much boosted by surfing. The journey has been enjoyable. The names of Kelly Slater and Stephanie Gillmore are two other well-known surfers who have made a reputation for themselves.
The ESPYs, an awards ceremony that recognises the top athletes in each discipline, nominated Hamilton for “Best Female Athlete with a Disability” the year before she was inducted. The surfer, though, informed NPR that she had made the decision to change her name. Hamilton urged the award presentation to alter the title to “Best Adaptive Athlete” since she didn’t like the word “impaired.” She stated, “I just — to me, the label ‘disabled’ does not represent my life, and who I am, and what I’ve accomplished, and the way I go about every single day. I have so much respect for all the folks in that category, and who earned that honour.
Her documentary focuses on motherhood
The surfer’s narrative is told in “Soul Surfer,” a film by Bethany Hamilton, as a young girl following the shark attack. Nevertheless, Hamilton published the 2018 documentary “Unstoppable: Bethany Hamilton” to help people get to know the actual professional surfer. The movie focuses on the accident as well as her comeback to the waves and rise to fame as one of the most well-known surfers in the world, as well as how her life altered after she married and had children.
In an interview with People following the show’s launch, Hamilton discussed parenting and how she and her husband, Adam Dirks, learned of her pregnancy earlier than they had anticipated. Being a new mother was difficult for me at the time. It’s something I believe many women suffer with, therefore I felt it was crucial to acknowledge that reality. I was very afraid when I first became a mother since I didn’t know what life would be like after,” she remarked.
Since then, Hamilton has perfected parenthood. Hamilton returned to her board in July 2021 after giving birth to her third son, Micah, in February. It’s been difficult for her to go to the gym or even get in the water much, she wrote with a video of herself on her surfboard on Instagram. So I just appreciate any enjoyment I may have in the surf! Mother still has it.
She became a motivational speaker
Through her experiences, motivational speaker Bethany Hamilton was able to inspire people all over the world. In 2014, former President Barack Obama gave one of her many remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C. Hamilton discussed her religion and how it gave her the guts to take up surfing again and become a professional, according to Surfer Today. You might think, “Wow, have pity on her; she lost her arm to a shark,” when you gaze upon me. However, I find it to be beautiful. Hamilton proclaimed, “God has transformed something dreadful into something utterly amazing.”
Hamilton attended a masterclass on motivation in 2022. Hamilton offered surfing advice, one of which was to stop being afraid of the ocean. She discussed how to stay motivated by maintaining a healthy diet and getting enough sleep, as well as how crucial it is to exercise your body and develop balance, particularly if you’re interested in surfing. Regarding her surfing objectives, she stated, “Just keep having fun out there. I want to keep spreading the word and encouraging girls to strive for excellence.
Hamilton continues to share her story and how her religion has enabled her to overcome various challenges at public gatherings, according to her website.
She got back on her surfboard a month later
Bethany Hamilton didn’t let losing her left arm stop her from pursuing her surfing goals. Just one month after the shark attack, Hamilton was back in the ocean and surfing, according to her website. In a press conference shortly after the attack, Hamilton said, “The biggest obstacle after the accident is getting on my board. I’m definitely getting more used to it, but at first, it was hard. I’ll keep surfing because I adore it. Because surfing is an activity that is enjoyable, safe, and provides good exercise, I would advise people to try it.
Although many individuals wouldn’t dare go back to a location where a horrible occurrence occurred, especially where tiger sharks lurked, Hamilton’s life didn’t stop because she lost a limb, and sharks weren’t going to frighten her away either. Even though I had been attacked, she admitted to The Guardian, “My dread of losing surfing was stronger than my fear of sharks.”
Amazingly, according to the California Surf Museum, fisherman eventually discovered the shark that is thought to have been responsible for the attack. Furthermore, they discovered that the bite marks on her surfboard and the shark’s jaws were identical.
She’s a published author
In addition to her autobiography “Soul Surfer,” which she published in 2004, Bethany Hamilton has also authored books for young readers about family, faith, and bravery. Her book “Soul Surfer Devotions” is about “tales of women to admire, prayers to focus on, and wipeouts to avoid,” according to her biography. Additionally, she co-wrote the children’s book “Unstoppable Me,” “Rise Above: A 90-Day Devotional,” “Ask Bethany,” and a Soul Surfer fiction series with her husband.
Hamilton published “Surfing Past Fear,” a new children’s book, in 2022. The book relates the tale of Olivia, an otter who breaks her arm one summer and worries she’ll never be able to surf again. She overcomes her worries, though, and jumps back in the water with the assistance of a few pals. I’m completely PUMPED to be able to present a fantastic, truly kid-friendly book that inspires kids to have a spirit of resiliency and overcoming fear — a message that I’m so passionate about!!,” Hamilton posted on Instagram beside a picture of her family enjoying the beach.
She married Adam Dirks in 2013
In May 2013, professional surfer Bethany Hamilton and Christian youth minister Adam Dirks got engaged. She gushed to People about the day, saying, “We hiked to our favourite peaceful beach, ate lunch, and hung out. Then we took a stroll to a lovely garden that was hidden behind the beach. We discovered two coconuts, my favourite beverage, along with the ring as we were strolling.
The two tied the knot in front of 300 guests in Kauai, Hawaii, in August 2013. Ten years have passed since her shark attack as well. Hamilton expressed how thrilled she was to spend the rest of her days with someone who shared her passion for adventure. “[Adam] and I like leading active, healthy lifestyles, and we want to spread that to others. Hamilton said, “I’m eager to have some adventures with him as well (via People).
Hamilton revealed details about Dirks’ embarrassing phone message requesting a meeting, their engagement, and their wedding day in a video of the couple talking about how they met. Getting married to Hamilton, according to Dirks, was “the finest day of our life.”
She quickly became a media sensation
The tale of Bethany Hamilton caught on like wildfire. She was a great inspiration because of her courage and resolve to continue surfing and eventually compete. When Hamilton made an appearance on “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” she recalled the tragic incident and assured the host that she felt no pain when the tiger shark bit off her limb. Hamilton shared her story on “20/20,” “Good Morning America,” and “The Today Show,” according to Surfer Magazine. At age 14, she later signed a book contract. In 2006, she published her book, “Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board,” which recounted the deadly attack, how she had to learn a new surf technique, and how her faith helped her persevere.
She appeared on Winfrey’s talk show “Oprah: Where Are The Now?” ten years after their first meeting and admitted that she had no idea how prominent she would become. She even acknowledged that she hadn’t even realised Winfrey was well-known at the time. “At the time, I was simply a young Hawaiian girl who was quite excited to share my novel Soul Surfer. I don’t believe I was aware that the impact of my life would be felt by so many people all around the world.
She wants to help mothers and daughters reconnect with her mentorship program
The ‘Ohana Mother-Daughter Experience, a mentorship programme for moms and daughters to interact and forge better ties, was introduced by Bethany Hamilton in December 2021. Hamilton expressed her desire for others to be able to lean on their mothers in times of need in an Instagram post, noting how much she did so after losing her arm to a shark. She stated, “I really appreciate being an example to so many people, but especially for adolescent girls in particular since I remember how hard it was for me. I was able to lean on my mom who encouraged me to trust in the Lord when circumstances grew difficult, especially when I lost my arm.
The programme, which is a 90-day mentoring for moms and girls aged 10 to 18, is described on Hamilton’s website as including weekly Zoom meetings with the professional surfer on strengthening mother-daughter connections. Following these sessions, they have the opportunity to meet Hamilton during a special three-night retreat in Hawaii, which includes surfing with Hamilton!
The couple competed in the Amazing Race
Bethany Hamilton and her husband, Adam Dirks, competed in “The Amazing Race” for CBS’ 25th season in 2014. Teams of two are sent on global challenges that are both physical and mental as part of the Emmy Award-winning programme. Fortunately, Hamilton and Dirks were already a terrific match as a married couple. After finishing third, they rose to become one of the most enduring teams.
Hamilton said in an interview with Young Hollywood about her experience that she had a terrific time working on the show with Dirks and had wanted to participate in the competition for a very long time. “I believe that we entered the race kind of understanding that, like, alright, let’s not like blame one other, get irritated with each other, but to realise that it’s the scenario that’s stressful… Being able to race alongside my best buddy and my hubby was great.
Hamilton has appeared on several television shows in addition to “The Amazing Race,” including “The Biggest Loser,” “Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?” and “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.”
They welcomed three children
Bethany Hamilton and Adam Dirks made the announcement of their first child’s impending birth less than a year after their wedding. The pro surfer announced the birth of their kid, Tobias, on Instagram in June 2015. In March 2018, the couple welcomed their second son, Wesley, and on Valentine’s Day in 2021, she gave birth to Micah, their third son, making their family of five.
Hamilton revealed to her Instagram fans in April 2021 how she managed to keep up with three boys while only having one arm. She said that the “tricks and adjustments are becoming better with each child” after having her son Micah, adding, “I use my feet to help with diaper change, lots of pillows with nursing, a baby carrier all throughout the day, and complicated techniques of holding to keep the baby’s head up. It can be hard at times, but I have to keep going forward, take short pauses, and be optimistic!
You can see her surfboard on display at the California Surf Museum
2011 saw the dedication of an exhibition at the California Surf Museum honouring Bethany Hamilton’s inspiring life and achievements. Her “Soul Surfer” movie was in theatres at the same time as the exhibition. Both Hamilton’s two-piece bathing suit and the surfboard she wore on the day of the shark attack in 2003 are on display at the museum. Her bathing suit, designed by artist Aaron Chang, has the silhouette of pro surfer Bill Hamilton, and the board has a shark bite that is 15 inches wide and 8 inches deep. They are not connected, either. It’s not surprising that the exhibit has been among the museum’s most well-liked.
Her tale is unique because of Hamilton’s determination to get back in the ocean, master one-arm surfing, and triumph in contests. Any worry about a subsequent shark attack was overshadowed by her love of surfing. It’s like my type of art and creation, and it’s a place, she said to NPR in 2019. Nothing is kind of holding me back or distracting me because I’m really engrossed in what I’m doing. I’m just taking in this amazing ride.