Breakfast  with  Bethany,  featuring  Bethany  Hamilton  

Bethany  Hamilton  Bio

Bethany  Hamilton  has  become  a  source  of  inspiration  to  millions  through  her  story  of  faith,  determination,  health  and  hope.  Born  into  a  family  of  surfers  on  February  8,  1990,  on  the  island  of  Kauai,  Hawaii,  Bethany  began  surfing  at  a  young  age.  At  the  age  of  eight,  Bethany  entered  her  first  surf  competition,  where  she  won  both  the  short  and  long  board  divisions.  This  sparked  a  love  for  surf  competition  within  her  spirit.

At  the  age  of  thirteen,  Bethany  was  attacked  by  a  14-­‐foot  tiger  shark  while  surfing  off  Kauai’s  North  Shore.  The  attack  left  Bethany  with  a  severed  left  arm.  After  losing  over  60%  of  her  blood,  and  making  it  through  several  surgeries  without  infection,  Bethany  was  on  her  way  to  recovery  with  an  unbelievably  positive  attitude.  Lifeguards  and  doctors  believe  her  strong  water  sense  and  faith  in  God  helped  get  her  through  the  traumatic  ordeal.

Miraculously,  just  one  month  after  the  attack,  Bethany  returned  to  the  water  to  pursue  her  goal  to  become  a  professional  surfer.  In  January  2004,  Bethany  made  her  return  to  surf  competition;  placing  5th  in  the  Open  Women’s  division  of  that  contest.  Just  over  a  year  after  the  attack  she  took  1st  place  in  the  Explorer  Women’s  division  of  the  2005  NSSA  National  Championships  winning  her  first  National  Title.  In  2007,  Bethany  realized  her  dream  and  turned  pro.

Since  losing  her  arm,  Bethany's  story  has  been  told  in  hundreds  of  media  outlets  and  she  has  been  recognized  with  numerous  awards,  public  appearances,  and  various  speaking  engagements.  In  October  2004,  Bethany  shared  her  life  story  in  her  autobiography  entitled  Soul  Surfer,  which  was  later  made  into  a  major  motion  picture.  Other  books  Bethany  has  written  include  Devotions  for  the  Soul  Surfer,  Rise  Above,  Ask  Bethany,  and  Clash,  Burned,  Storm,  and  Crunch.  Further,  Bethany  was  the  inspiration  behind  Becky  Baumgartner's  2007  documentary  entitled  Heart  of  a  Soul  Surfer.

Bethany  has  grown  from  a  young  teenage  girl  with  aspirations  of  becoming  a  professional  surfer  into  a  twenty-­‐year  old  professional  surfer  with  aspirations  of  becoming  a  beacon  of  inspiration  and  hope.  Through  the  platform  of  professional  sport,  Bethany  has  been  able  to  touch  a  large  number  of  people  with  her  message,  charitable  efforts,  and  overall  spirit.  Bethany  just  launched  her  own  foundation,  Friends  of  Bethany,  which  supports  shark  attack  survivors,  traumatic  amputees,  and  serves  to  inspire  others  through  her  life  story,  and  is  involved  in  numerous  other  charitable  efforts.