Despite losing an arm in an accident, her mental strength and passion for the sport led her to become a legend in the United States.
Suffering from a serious accident can be a devastating blow to both the person and those around them. In the United States, several athletes demonstratedthat, with mental strength and determination, it is possible to overcome these traumas and continue towards your dreams. Examples like Bethany Hamiltonthe surfer who didn’t let tragedy stop her, show the importance of resilience in life and sport.
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Worldwide, there are multiple cases of athletes who suffered physical challenges, from Lionel Messi with his growth hormone treatment, to paralympics who achieved their goals overcoming great obstacles. Hamilton joins this list as an inspiration to everyone, proving that no matter the magnitude of adversity, you can always keep going.
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To overcome a tragedy that leaves important consequences, it is necessary to have patience and hold on to the passion for what one loves like Bethany Hamilton did, the athlete from the United States who, despite losing an arm, continued surfing.
The story of Bethany Hamilton, the surfer who started her career after losing an arm
The young promise of American sports was born in Hawaii in 1990 and was raised in the heart of the surfing by his parents, who shared his love of discipline. Since she was little, the ocean was her home, learning to surf even before she mastered walking. At just 8 years old, she was already competing professionally and winning local competitions, showing a talent that would make her stand out as one of the future stars of surfing.
Bethany’s innate talent quickly put her on the radar of big brands like Rip Curl, who sponsored her from an early age. At the age of 10, she was already accumulating victories in tournaments in different categories, reaffirming her status as a child prodigy on the board. Everything indicated that his career was destined to be one of the most brilliant.
However, on October 31, 2003, his life changed forever. While surfing with friends on the beach in Kauai, A shark attacked her, ripping off her left arm. Despite the seriousness of the situation, her friends managed to get her to shore, where she was immediately taken to the hospital. He lost 60% of his blood, but thanks to quick medical intervention, he managed to survive.
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The athlete with her autobiography: Soul Surfer.
Despite the physical and emotional trauma, the young woman never thought about giving up surfing. Despite having a logical fear after the accident, but full of will, Bethany He returned to the waves just 10 weeks after the attack. He adapted his board to make it easier to handle it with one arm, and, with the support of his family, he learned new techniques that would allow him to continue practicing the sport as before.
The athlete’s story clearly would not end there. The following year, she was awarded the prize ESPY for “Best Comeback by an Athlete”and continued competing nationally and internationally. His incredible story inspired millions, and in 2004 he wrote his autobiography Soul Surferwhich became a bestseller. Later, in 2011, his life was made into a film with the film based on his book, starring Anna Sophia Robbwhich grossed more than $10 million in its opening weekend.
Source: Ambito