Bethany Hamilton

Hello. My name is Bethany Hamilton, and I want to tell you my story. I was born on a beautiful island in Hawaii on February 8th, 1990. The big, blue ocean was like my playground. My whole family loved the water, and they were all amazing surfers. They taught me how to ride the waves when I was just a little girl, and I loved it more than anything. In 1998, when I was only eight years old, I entered my very first surfing contest. Feeling the power of the waves under my board was the best feeling in the world.

One day, everything changed. It was a sunny morning on October 31st, 2003. I was thirteen years old and out surfing with my best friend, Alana. I was lying on my surfboard, waiting for the next perfect wave, when a big tiger shark surprised me. It bit my arm very quickly. It was a scary moment, but my friends and family were so brave. They helped me get out of the water and to the hospital right away. Everyone worked together to make sure I was safe.

After I lost my arm, the only thing I could think about was getting back on my surfboard. I missed the ocean so much. Just one month after the attack, I was ready to try again. I paddled out into the water, feeling determined. It was very tricky at first. I had to learn how to balance and paddle all over again with only one arm. My dad, Tom, helped me by putting a special handle on my surfboard. This little handle made a big difference because it gave me something to hold onto while I pushed myself up to stand on the board.

I never gave up on my dream of being a great surfer. I practiced every single day. In 2005, two years after the attack, I won my first national surfing title. It felt amazing. I grew up and became a professional surfer, which means I get to travel all around the world and ride waves in different oceans. Now, I have a wonderful family of my own. I hope my story shows you that even when something very hard happens, you can keep going. You can get through tough times and still do amazing things.