Bethany Hamilton Celebrates Win and Child's First Birthday All In One Week
More than 10 years after lossing her arm from a shark attack, surfer Bethany Hamilton continue to set records in professional surfing competitions.
Hamilton recently beat six-time world chamption during the past weekend during World Surf League's Fiji Women's Pro. She won third place after beating Stephanie Gilmore, the top ranked female surfer in the world, in the semifinals of the competition.
Hamilton also exceeded her personal best as she surpasses her previous best finish. It was revealed that this is her ninth World Surf compeition. Hamilton lost her arm back in 2003 after a violent shark attack. The way Hamilton went through her obstacles inspired many fans, as she eventually became a symbol of resilience. It was said that she returned to surfing weeks after the accident, showing perservance for her passion.
After years, she was able to develop a special handle that will help her paddle into incoming waves with one hand. According to TODAY, she said, "I think all of us have that passion in us for different things. It may not be surfing, but whatever your passion is, you just go for it." Aside from her recent victory, she is also nearing another celebration as this week is expected to bring the first birthday of her first born, Tobias.
With that, it shows that her past accident does not stop her from living her life. Reports by BBC also explained that Hamilton is happy to be an inspiration to young girls. She said, "I know I'm in a unique position to hopefully encourage young girls to chase their dreams. Even after losing my arm I'm still doing everything I hoped I could do. I'm a reminder for young girls that you can do it if you set your mind to it."
