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Bethany Hamilton was born in Lihue, Kauai, Hawaii to Tom and Cheri Hamilton, and older brothers Noah and Timothy.
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Between the ages of two and five, Hamilton (being raised in a family of surfers) learned to surf as well as value and accept her faith. During these years her competitiveness also grew from being influenced by her two older brothers. ("No Fear: Bethany Hamilton on Finding Your Courage").
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At the age of eight Hamilton succesfully competed in her first ever surf competition. The competition was called "Rell Sunn Menehune Surfing Championships" and was on Oahu, Hawaii. Here, Bethany won both the short and longboard divisions. (Soul Surfer-Bethany Hamilton's Motivational Story of Courage and Bravery).
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At the age of nine, after Hamilton began competiting, she was quickly given her first major surf sponsorships from both Rip Curl and TIm Carroll Surfboards. (Soul Surfer-Bethany Hamilton's Motivational Story of Courage and Bravery).
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On Halloween morning, Bethany and her friend Allana Blanchard went for a morning surf along Tunnels Beach, Kauai. She was enjoying a leisurely day, lying on her surfboard with her left arm dangling in the water when suddenly a tiger shark surfaced from beneath the water and attacked her. Initially the doctors told her parents that her chances of survival were very slim. But she bravely fought on against all odds and survived. (Hamilton).
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She won the ESPY Award for Best Comeback Athlete in 2004 and was also given the Courage Teen Choice Award. (Winfrey).
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Later in 2004 she wrote about her experiences regarding the shark attack and her miraculous recovery and comeback in her autobiography, ‘Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Boar’. The book became very popular and became a best-seller. (Hamilton).
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In 2011, a biopic drama film, ‘Soul Surfer’ based on her autobiography ‘Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board’ was released. The film had Anna Sophia Robb portraying the character of Bethany with Helen Hunt and Dennis Quaid playing her parents. ("Interview with Bethany Hamilton").
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her legacy continues as she now has written her second book, Body and Soul: A Girls Guide to a Fit, Fun and Fabulous Life was published in 2014, and she became involved in the creation of another documentary, Surfs Like a Girl. (Lieber Films). This photograph shows how much she has overcome and grown to accomplish all she wanted in life. (Bethany Extends Deal with Rip Curl).
