Bethany Hamilton stands as a phenomenal example of an unwavering spirit and resilience as an American surfer and motivational speaker who lost her arm to a shark attack at 13 years old. All her remarkable qualities, including resilience, determination, leadership and more, have shaped her character to overcome the hardships in her life, also making the process of returning to her passion, surfing, easier. Her characteristics empower Hamilton as a symbol of hope and encouragement around the world, especially for those with physical limitations.
After suffering a shark attack on the 31st of October 2003 that lost Hamilton her arm at Makua Beach, Hamilton went from being a professional surfer to becoming a globally recognised symbol of tenacity. Despite the end of her remarkable surfing career, this situation began an incredible journey filled with challenges for Hamilton. Her unwillingness to allow the challenges in her life to define who she is or what she can achieve significantly sets Hamilton apart from other people. Less than a year after the accident, Hamilton remarkably returned to her passion, going against the limitations and expectations everyone else expected of her. By utilising the injury as a catalyst for…show more content… First of all, it brought her into the spotlight and made her a highly inspirational and influential figure. Her survival and victorious comeback to professional surfing was an emotional story of courage and allowed Hamilton to connect and reach out to people all around the world. Additionally, the attack sparked Hamilton’s personal growth journey and helped her pursue a career outside of surfing. By accepting her position as a public figure, Hamilton wrote books, gave motivational speeches and was deeply involved in advocacy and charity work. She began to support shark conservation, ocean safety programs and especially
