Bethany Meilani Hamilton (born February 8, 1990) (age 19) is an American surfer. She is known for surviving a shark attack in which she lost her left arm, and for overcoming the serious and debilitating injury to return to surfing.
Hamilton was born in Kauai, Hawaii. She lived with her parents and two brothers, Tim and Noah. Both of her parents were surfers who moved to Hawaii from the continental United States for the surfing opportunities. Hami...
more
Bethany Meilani Hamilton (born February 8, 1990) (age 19) is an American surfer. She is known for surviving a shark attack in which she lost her left arm, and for overcoming the serious and debilitating injury to return to surfing.
Hamilton was born in Kauai, Hawaii. She lived with her parents and two brothers, Tim and Noah. Both of her parents were surfers who moved to Hawaii from the continental United States for the surfing opportunities. Hamilton was taught how to surf by her parents and, in her book, says that she couldn't have done it without support from her brothers. Her surfing abilities progressed very quickly and, while still eight years old, she won first place in the "push and ride" division of a Quicksilver surfing contest. She entered her first major surfing competition at the age of eight, the "Rell Sunn Menehune" contest on the island of Oahu at Makaha, competing in the girls seven to nine longboard, and seven to nine shortboard, taking first place in both. With...
less
