Bethany Hamilton

Hamilton was born on February 8, 1990, to Tom and Cheri Hamilton.[2] She has two older brothers, Noah and Timothy. After learning how to surf at the age of three, she began surfing competitively at the age of eight and gained her first sponsorship by age ten.[3] Hamilton was home-schooled from sixth grade through high school by her mother, a housewife. Her father was a waiter at a town café. She is a Christian.[4]

In early 2012, Hamilton met youth minister[5] Adam Dirks through mutual friends.[6] They became engaged in 2013.[7][8] The couple was married on August 18, 2013, at an estate on Kauai's north shore, near where she grew up.[9][10] The couple had a son on June 1, 2015.[11] On March 27, 2018, they had a second son. On February 14, 2021, they had a third son. Their marriage is featured throughout her documentary, Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppable. Along with being a professional surfer, she now offers mentorship classes on faith, healing, personal health, and relationships.[12]

On October 31, 2003, Hamilton, aged 13 at the time, went for a morning surf along Tunnels Beach, Kauai, with her best friend Alana Blanchard, Alana's father and brother. While she was lying on her surfboard belly-down and talking with Alana, a 14-foot-long (4.3 m) tiger shark attacked her.[13] The shark swiftly bit off her left arm, which she had been dangling in the water, just below the shoulder. The Blanchards helped paddle her back to shore, then Alana's father fashioned a tourniquet out of a rash guard and wrapped it around the stump of her arm. She was rushed to Wilcox Memorial Hospital. By the time she arrived there, she had lost over 60% of her blood and was in hypovolemic shock. A doctor living in a hotel nearby raced to the rescue. Her father, who was scheduled to have knee surgery that same morning, was already there, but she took his place in the operating room. During subsequent media interviews, she confirmed that she felt normal when she was bitten and did not feel much pain from the bite, but felt numb on the way to the hospital.

Hamilton surfing in March 2007

When the news broke of the shark attack, a family of fishermen led by Ralph Young presented to investigators photos of a 14-foot-long (4.3 m) tiger shark they had caught and killed about one mile from the attack site. It had surfboard debris in its mouth. When measurements of its mouth were compared with those of Hamilton's broken board, it matched. In late 2004, the police officially confirmed that it was the same one that had attacked her.

Despite the trauma of the incident, Hamilton was determined to return to surfing.[4] One month after the attack, she returned to her board.[14]

Initially, she adopted a custom-made board that was longer and slightly thicker than standard and had a handle for her right arm, making it easier to paddle, and she learned to kick more to make up for the loss of her left arm. After teaching herself to surf with one arm, she returned to surfing on November 26, 2003, just 26 days after the attack and entered her first major competition on January 10, 2004.[2] She now uses standard competitive performance short-boards.[15] The shark-bitten surfboard that Hamilton was riding during the attack, as well as the bathing suit she was wearing at the time, a gift from ocean photographer Aaron Chang, are on display at the California Surf Museum in Oceanside, California.[16][17]

Since the attack she has appeared as a guest on numerous television shows. Her manager, Roy "Dutch" Hofstetter, who went on to produce the film Soul Surfer, managed her rise through the media from shark attack victim to inspirational role model. The television shows she has appeared on include The Amazing Race, The Biggest Loser, 20/20, Good Morning America, Inside Edition, The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Today Show, The Tonight Show and Dude Perfect, as well as in the magazines People, Time, and American Girl. Additionally she was the cover story in the first issue of niNe magazine.[18]

She has participated in multiple public speaking events and is "motivating audiences worldwide to live their life with more tenacity, courage, and faith".[2]

In 2004, she won the ESPY Award for Best Comeback Athlete[19] and also received the Courage Teen Choice Award.[20]

In 2004, MTV Books published Hamilton's book, Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board, which describes her ordeal. Her story is also told in the 2007 short subject documentary film Heart of a Soul Surfer. Described as a "faith-based documentary", the film addresses her devout Christianity and the courage and faith in Jesus Christ in the aftermath of the shark attack, and follows her quest for spiritual meaning.[21][22]

In 2009, she was a contestant on Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? and won $25,000. In 2010, she appeared on an episode of ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

In 2011, Hamilton appeared in a video for the Christian organization I Am Second, telling of her struggle after the shark attack and how she trusted in God to get her through it.[23] In 2011, a feature film Soul Surfer, based on her 2004 book, was released in theaters. Hamilton was portrayed by actress AnnaSophia Robb. Hamilton herself performed all the one-armed surfing stunts in it.[24]

She also appeared on the TLC series 19 Kids and Counting the same year, in the episode titled "Duggars Under the Sea", when the Duggar family visited her in Atlanta, Georgia.[25]

Hamilton plays herself in the film Dolphin Tale 2, which revolves around the baby dolphin Hope's story.[26] Hamilton and her husband, Adam Dirks, competed as a team on the 25th season of The Amazing Race, finishing in third place. It premiered in 2014 on CBS.[27]

Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppable is set to tell the story of her transition from childhood to motherhood. "From chasing her toddler to chasing the biggest waves. Bethany is continuously re-writing the rules on being a fearless athlete, and brings a new meaning to the phrase, 'Surf Like a Girl'".[28]

Hamilton was featured in a short film by RipCurl called Master and Apprentice along side young female surfer, Erin Brooks.[29]

Hamilton has published eight books with her mom publishing one about her story.

Hamilton is involved in numerous charitable efforts, including her own foundation, Friends of Bethany,[31] which reaches out to amputees and youth, encouraging them to overcome difficulties by offering hope through Jesus Christ. Using her platform as a professional athlete to promote living a fit and healthy lifestyle, she authored the book Body and Soul in 2014. In 2019, a surf documentary was made about her, Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppable,[32] which was accompanied by a photo book and a children's book.[33]

Within the Friends of Bethany Foundation there are four different programs:

• Beautifully Flawed: retreat designed for young women ages 14–25 who have experienced traumatic limb loss. Six events hosted annually through this program which include: guests speakers, practical health and wellness tips which specifically account for limb loss, postural training, and surf lessons.[34]
• Shine Forth: Night filled with stories and inspiration to overcome, free community event to gather together and share comeback stories. Bethany also does a book signing at this event, which is hosted annually.[34]
• Anchored in Love: Conference for girls and young women ages 12 and up, one day event designed to help girls and young women discover their true beauty, purpose, and worth. Event is held annually in San Diego and features several guest speakers.[34]
• The Forge: Men's retreat where young male amputees come and focus on faith, fitness, and healthy living. This program is run by Bethany, her husband, and friend/mentor Mike Coots.[34]

Wikiquote has quotations related to: Bethany Hamilton

• Official website
• CBS News interview
• Bethany Hamilton Video produced by Makers: Women Who Make America
• Bethany Hamilton and the Teeth of the Tiger
• Surfer Girls - Bethany Hamilton
• Bethany Hamilton at IMDb