Surfer Girl

Whenever some hear about a surfer named Hamilton, the first knee-jerk reaction is to say Laird Hamilton. He has been a professional surfer since the 1980s. However, there is a new surfer named Hamilton, Bethany Hamilton (no relation). Bethany has been a professional surfer for six years. In 2005, Hamilton took 1st place in the National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA) National Championships. In 2008, she began competing full-time on the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS). In her first competition against many of the world's best women surfers, she finished 2^nd. So what makes Bethany stand out? Let’s go back to Halloween morning in 2003. Bethany went surfing with her friend Alana, Alana’s brother and Alana’s father. While waiting for a wave, a 14-foot tiger shark attacked her. Her friend’s father was able to help her to shore and rush her to the hospital, where she was saved after losing 60% of her blood and her left arm. Just one month later, Bethany was back in the water, with help from her father, Tom, learning to surf with one arm. Shortly thereafter, she was competing again. In July 2004, Bethany Hamilton was awarded the ESPY for Best Comeback Athlete. She has also given her time to help others less fortunate. That same year, Hamilton went with her church group to Thailand to take supplies after the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami. While there, she took the time to get the youth of Thailand back into the feared ocean water, teaching the children to surf and bringing fun back into their lives. She was also featured in ESPN’s series, My Wish, where she surfed with Kendall Curnick, an 8-year-old girl that was diagnosed with leukemia.

It is people like Bethany Hamilton and situations like hers and Kendall Curnick’s that really makes you appreciate human will and what is possible if you believe. When you hear about someone like Bethany Hamilton, Anthony Robles or Jim Abbott, you have to marvel what someone can accomplish despite what people may see as limitations. Anthony Robles is an Arizona State graduate who won an NCAA Championship while wrestling with one leg and finishing his senior season with a perfect 36-0. Jim Abbott, a Major League Baseball pitcher who was born with one hand, did not allow this to limit him. He worked hard, won the Golden Spikes award as College Baseball’s best player and even went on to throw a no-hitter while pitching for the Yankees. These athletes, along with Bethany, are an inspiration.

Bethany’s story is one that shows that hard work and desire can help you overcome nearly any situation.  We need to remember her story when we, as everyday people, are having a rough day or week. She is an inspiration to people of all ages. She isn’t the next Laird Hamilton; she’s the first Bethany Hamilton.