Bethany Hamilton
Bethany Meilani Hamilton (born February 8, 1990) is an American professional surfer and writer. She is known for surviving a 2003 shark attack in which her left arm was bitten off. She returned to professional surfing.[2]
Bethany Hamilton | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Hamilton surfing in 2016 | |
| Born | Bethany Meilani Hamilton February 8, 1990 (aged 36) Lihue, Hawaii, U.S. |
| Spouse(s) | Adam Dirks
(m. 2013) |
| Children | 4 |
| Personal information | |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)[1] |
| Weight | 154 lb (70 kg) |
| Surfing career | |
| Best year | 2016 |
| Major achievements | ESPY Award (2004) NSSA National Helping Kids Champion (2005) 2nd place, ASP World Junior Championships (2008) |
| Surfing specifications | |
| Stance | Goofy[1] |
| Website | bethanyhamilton |
She wrote about her experience in the 2004 autobiography Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board. In April 2011, the feature movie Soul Surfer was released.
Early life
Hamilton was born on February 8, 1990, to Tom and Cheri Hamilton in Lihue, Hawaii.[3] She has two older brothers, Noah and Timothy. After learning how to surf at the age of three, Hamilton began surfing competitively at the age of eight and gained her first sponsorship by age 10.[4] Hamilton was home-schooled from sixth grade through high school by her mother, a housewife, while her father was a waiter at a town café.[source?]
Personal life
In early 2012, Hamilton met youth minister[5] Adam Dirks through mutual friends.[6] They became engaged in 2013.[7][8] The couple married on August 18, 2013, at an estate on [[Kauaʻi]]'s north shore, near where Hamilton grew up.[9][10] They have four children (three sons and a daughter).[11][12][13][14] Their marriage is featured throughout her documentary, Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppable. Along with being a professional surfer, Hamilton now offers mentorship classes on faith, healing, personal health, and relationships.[15]
Books
Hamilton has published nine books, and her mom has also published one about her story.
| Book title | Authors | Year published | Plot | Refs. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board | Bethany Hamilton, Rick Bundschuh and Sheryl Berk | 2004 | Autobiography detailing the time leading up to the shark attack, how she recovered, dealt with media attention, and how she ultimately got back on the board and returned to competition | |
| Devotions for the Soul Surfer | Bethany Hamilton | 2006, reprinted in 2011 | Christian devotional book for young girls | |
| Rise Above: A 90-day Devotional | 2007 | Christian devotional for young girls discussing both "hot and cool topics that every young girl faces" | [3] | |
| Ask Bethany: FAQs: Surfing, Faith, and Friends | 2007 | Bethany answers questions discussing faith and how it has helped her throughout her life | ||
| Raising a Soul Surfer: One Family's Epic Tale | Cheri Hamilton / Rick Bundschuh | 2011 | This book was written by Hamilton's Mom and provides the story of Bethany's shark attack through the perspective of her parents. | |
| Body and Soul: A Girl's Guide to a Fit, Fun, and Fabulous Life | Bethany Hamilton, Dustin Dillberg | 2014 | Provides readers with guidelines to become their healthiest self and practice a fit lifestyle. Includes workouts, healthy recipes, and tips for coping with stress | [3] |
| Ask Bethany: Bethany Answers Over 200 Questions from Girls Like You | Bethany Hamilton, Doris Rikkers | 2014, reprinted 2016 | Bethany answers fan questions about "a wide variety of topics about her life and faith" | |
| Be Unstoppable: The Art of Never Giving Up | Bethany Hamilton | 2018 | In this book Bethany "inspires readers to be bold, enjoy life, and take risk of trusting God each day. Includes photos, inspiration quotes, and life lessons from Hamilton | |
| Unstoppable Me | Bethany Hamilton, Adam Dirks, illustrated by Gill Guile | 2018 | Children's book based on Bethany's story. It follows Makana the lion who enjoys surfing but loses her nerve after wiping out on the water. With the help of her friends she rediscovers her love for surfing. | [16] |
| Surfing Past Fear | Bethany Hamilton, BRAVE BOOKS, illustrated by Martin Moròn | 2022 | Following an arm fracture, fellow beachgoers help Olivia overcome her concerns. | [17] |
Outreach programs
Hamilton is involved in numerous charitable efforts, including her own foundation, Friends of Bethany,[18] which reaches out to amputees and youth, encouraging them to overcome difficulties by offering hope through Jesus Christ. Using her platform as a professional athlete to promote living a fit and healthy lifestyle, Hamilton authored the book Body and Soul in 2014. In 2019, a surf documentary was made about her, Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppable,[19] which was accompanied by a photo book and a children's book.[20]
Within the Friends of Bethany Foundation, there are four different programs:
- Beautifully Flawed: retreat designed for young women ages 14–25 who have experienced traumatic limb loss. Six events hosted annually through this program which include: guests speakers, practical health and wellness tips which specifically account for limb loss, postural training, and surf lessons.[21]
- Shine Forth: Night filled with stories and inspiration to overcome, free community event to gather together and share comeback stories. Bethany also does a book signing at this event, which is hosted annually.[21]
- Anchored in Love: Conference for girls and young women ages 12 and up, one day event designed to help girls and young women discover their true beauty, purpose, and worth. Event is held annually in San Diego and features several guest speakers.[21]
- The Forge: Men's retreat where young male amputees come and focus on faith, fitness, and healthy living. This program is run by Bethany, her husband, and friend/mentor Mike Coots.[21]
Surfing career
| Placings in surf competitions | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Event | Place | Country |
| 1998 | Rell Sunn Menehune | 1st | 
|
| 2002 | Open Women's Division of theNSSA | 
| |
| 2004 | NSSA National Competition |
| |
| 2005 |
| ||
| 2006 | NSSA National Championship: 18-and-under Finalist | 5th | |
| 2006 | Hawaii Team Highlights | 4th 3rd | |
| 2007 | NSSA Regionals | 1st | |
| 2007 | T & C Pipeline Women's Pro | ||
| 2008 | US Open of Surfing—Huntington Beach, California | 5th | |
| 2008 | Roxy Pro Surf Festival—Phillip Island | 3rd |
|
| 2008 | ASP's World Qualifying Series | 14th | N/A |
| 2009 | Rio Surf International in Rio de Janeiro | 3rd | File:Flag of Brazil.svg |
| 2009 | WSL's World Qualifying Series | 14th | 
|
| 2009 | Billabong ASP World Junior Championship | 2nd |
|
| 2009 | World Cup Sunset Beach | 13th |
|
| 2010 | Rip Curl Pro Portugal | 9th | 
|
| 2011 | Rip Curl Women's Pro Bells Beach | 13th |
|
| 2012 | Telstra Drug Aware Pro | 9th | |
| 2012 | Rip Curl Cup Padang Padang | N/A | 
|
| 2012 | Swatch Girl's Pro France | 37th | 
|
| 2013 | Supergirl Pro | 9th |
|
| 2014 | Hurley Australian Open | 37th |
|
| 2014 | Surf 'n' Sea Pipeline Women's Pro | 1st |
|
| 2015 | Swatch Women's Pro | 13th | |
| 2016 | Fiji Women's Pro | 3rd | 
|
| 2016 | Swatch Women's Pro | 13th |
|
| 2017 | Wahine Pipe Pro | 17th | |
| 2017 | Outerknown Fiji Women's Pro | 9th |
|
| 2018 | Surf Ranch Pro–Lemoore, CA | 13th |
|
| 2018 | Beachwaver Maui Pro | ||
| 2020 | Sydney Surf Pro | 17th |
|
| 2021 | Nissan Super Girl Surf Pro | 33rd |
|
| 2021 | HIC Pipe Pro | 13th | |
| 2022 | Billabong Pro Pipeline | 9th | |
| 2022 | Priority Destinations Pro | 4th |
Bethany Hamilton Media
Hamilton surfing in March 2007
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Bethany Hamilton Surfer Bio (in en). World Surf League. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
- ↑ Bethany Hamilton (in en-us). Biography. Retrieved 2020-02-29.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Bethany Hamilton | Soul Surfer, Professional Surfer, Role Model, Inspiration (in en-US). Bethany Hamilton. Retrieved February 29, 2020.
- ↑ Bethany Hamilton (in en-us). Biography. Retrieved February 29, 2020.
- ↑ Dodd, Johnny. Bethany Hamilton: My Husband Keeps Me Surfing. People (March 28, 2014). Retrieved March 28, 2014.
- ↑ Webber, Stephanie. Pro Surfer Bethany Hamilton Marries Adam Dirks. Us Weekly (August 18, 2013). Retrieved August 18, 2013.
- ↑ Wicks, Krista. Surfer Bethany Hamilton Engaged. Entertainment Tonight (May 7, 2013). Retrieved May 8, 2013.
- ↑ Soul Surfer Bethany Hamilton Engaged to Wed Youth Minister Adam Dirks. www.gospelherald.com (July 12, 2013). Retrieved December 19, 2016.
- ↑ Dodd, Johnny. Bethany Hamilton's Official Wedding Photo. People (August 21, 2013). Retrieved February 9, 2023.
- ↑ Soul Surfer Bethany Hamilton Gets Married to Christian Youth Minister Adam Dirks. www.gospelherald.com (August 18, 2013). Retrieved December 19, 2016.
- ↑ Herreria, Carla. Bethany Hamilton Introduces New Baby Boy With Adorable Family Photo. The Huffington Post (June 15, 2015). Retrieved February 9, 2023.
- ↑ Mizoguchi, Karen. Meet Wesley Phillip! Surfer Bethany Hamilton Welcomes Her Second Son. People (March 27, 2018). Retrieved February 9, 2023.
- ↑ Weinberg, Lindsay. Bethany Hamilton Gives Birth to Baby No. 3 on Valentine's Day. E! Online (February 16, 2021). Retrieved February 9, 2023.
- ↑ Montoya, Melissa. Bethany Hamilton Welcomes Baby No. 4: 'Meet Our Beautiful Daughter'. People (30 June 2023)Dotdash Meredith. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
- ↑ Bethany Hamilton | Soul Surfer, Professional Surfer, Role Model, Inspiration (in en-US). Bethany Hamilton. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
- ↑ Unstoppable Me: Adam Dirks: 9780310764977 (in en). www.booksamillion.com. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
- ↑ Surfing Past Fear. bravebooks.us. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
- ↑ Friends of Bethany Hamilton – A non-profit which reaches out to encourage a broken world offering hope to overcome through Jesus Christ (in en-US). www.friendsofbethany.com. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
- ↑ Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppable (in en-US). Unstoppable. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
- ↑ Bethany Hamilton | Unstoppable Books (in en-US). bethanyhamilton.com. Retrieved June 6, 2018.[dead link]
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 Friends of Bethany. www.friendsofbethany.com. Retrieved February 29, 2020.
Other websites
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