Bethany Meilani Hamilton born February 8, 1990 is an American professional surfer and author. In 2003, she survived a devastating shark attack that resulted in the loss of her left arm. Despite this life-changing event, she made an inspiring return to professional surfing and shared her journey in the 2004 autobiography Soul Surfer.
Bethany Hamilton Biography 2024
A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board. The book was later adapted into the 2011 film Soul Surfer. Hamilton credits her resilience to her strong Christian faith. In addition to her surfing career, Hamilton was featured in the 2018 documentary Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppable, where she explores how marriage and motherhood have influenced her career in professional surfing.
Bethany Hamilton Biography Details
| Born | Bethany Meilani Hamilton February 8, 1990 (age 34) Lihue, Hawaii, U.S. |
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| Children | 4 |
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| Residence | Kauai, Hawaii, U.S. |
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| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) |
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| Weight | 154 lb (70 kg) |
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Bethany Hamilton Early Life
Hamilton was born on February 8, 1990, in Lihue, Hawaii, to Tom and Cheri Hamilton. She has two older brothers, Noah and Timothy. Having learned to surf at the age of three, Hamilton started competing at just eight years old and secured her first sponsorship by the age of 10. She was home-schooled from sixth grade through high school by her mother, a stay-at-home mom, while her father worked as a waiter at a local café.
Bethany Hamilton Bio
Birth Name | Bethany Meilani Hamilton |
Birth Date | February 8, 1990 |
Birthplace | Lihue, Hawaii, U.S. |
Parents | Tom Hamilton (father), Cheri Hamilton (mother) |
Siblings | Two older brothers, Noah and Timothy |
Surfing Start | Started surfing at age 3 |
First Sponsorship | Age 10 |
Schooling | Home-schooled by her mother |
Shark Attack and Recovery
Date of Attack | October 31, 2003 |
Location | Tunnels Beach, Kauai, Hawaii |
Shark Type | 14-foot tiger shark |
Injury | Left arm bitten off below the shoulder |
Immediate Actions | Father and friend helped paddle her back to shore |
Hospital | Wilcox Medical Center, Kauai |
Blood Loss | Over 60% of her blood lost |
Recovery | Surfed again 26 days later, in November 2003 |
Media Appearances
Year | Media Appearance |
2004 | ESPY Awards (Best Comeback Athlete) |
2004 | MTV’s True Life: I’m a Shark Attack Survivor |
2004 | Soul Surfer autobiography released |
2009 | Contestant on Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? |
2011 | Soul Surfer movie released |
2013 | Extreme Makeover: Home Edition |
2014 | The Amazing Race (finished 3rd) |
2018 | Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppable documentary |
Books by Bethany Hamilton
Book Title | Publication Year |
Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board | 2004 |
Devotions for the Soul Surfer | 2006 (reprinted 2011) |
Rise Above: A 90-day Devotional | 2007 |
Ask Bethany: FAQs: Surfing, Faith, and Friends | 2007 |
Raising a Soul Surfer | 2011 |
Body and Soul: A Girl’s Guide to a Fit, Fun, and Fabulous Life | 2014 |
Be Unstoppable: The Art of Never Giving Up | 2018 |
Unstoppable Me | 2018 |
Surfing Past Fear | 2022 |
Bethany Hamilton Career Achievements
Year | Event | Achievement |
1998 | Rell Sunn Menehune | 1st Place |
2002 | NSSA Open Women’s Division | 1st Place |
2004 | NSSA National Championship | 1st Place |
2005 | NSSA National Championship | 1st Place |
2008 | ASP World Junior Championships | 2nd Place |
2016 | Fiji Women’s Pro | 3rd Place |
2017 | Outerknown Fiji Women’s Pro | 9th Place |
2018 | Surf Ranch Pro | 13th Place |
Personal Life
Spouse | Adam Dirks |
Marriage Year | 2013 |
Children | 4 (3 sons, 1 daughter) |
Residence | Kauai, Hawaii |
Faith | Christian |
Bethany Hamilton Outreach Programs
Program Name | Target Group |
Beautifully Flawed | Young women ages 14–25 who have experienced traumatic limb loss |
Shine Forth | Community event sharing comeback stories |
Anchored in Love | Girls and young women ages 12+ discovering beauty, purpose, and worth |
The Forge | Men’s retreat for amputees focusing on faith, fitness, and healthy living |
Competitive Surfing Career
Event | Year | Place |
NSSA National Championship | 2004 | 1st Place |
Roxy Pro Surf Festival | 2008 | 3rd Place |
US Open of Surfing | 2008 | 5th Place |
Rip Curl Women’s Pro Bells Beach | 2011 | 13th Place |
Rip Curl Women’s Pro Portugal | 2010 | 9th Place |
Surf ‘n’ Sea Pipeline Women’s Pro | 2014 | 1st Place |
Swatch Women’s Pro | 2015 | 13th Place |
Fiji Women’s Pro | 2016 | 3rd Place |
Films Featuring Bethany Hamilton
Film Title | Year | Role/Appearance |
Soul Surfer | 2011 | Played by AnnaSophia Robb |
Dolphin Tale 2 | 2014 | Played herself |
Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppable | 2018 | Featured in documentary |
Media Highlights
Year | Show/Event |
2004 | The Oprah Winfrey Show |
2004 | The Ellen DeGeneres Show |
2011 | 19 Kids and Counting |
2014 | The Amazing Race |
2024 | The Masked Singer |
Bethany Hamilton Sponsorships and Brand Endorsements
Brand | Year Sponsored |
Rip Curl | Ongoing |
Tunnels Beach | 2003 |
Swatch | 2015 |
Charity Work
Foundation Name | Focus |
Friends of Bethany | Outreach to amputees and youth |
Beautifully Flawed | Amputee-focused surf lessons and wellness retreats |
Shine Forth | Motivational events and book signings |
Bethany Hamilton Faith
Aspect of Faith | Details |
Christian Beliefs | Strong connection to faith, attributes recovery to Jesus Christ |
Public Faith Sharing | Frequently shares her faith story in interviews and documentaries |
I Am Second Video | Released in 2011, focused on her Christian testimony |
Bethany Hamilton Career Challenges
Challenge | Details |
Shark Attack | Lost her left arm but continued professional surfing |
Media Attention | Faced intense media scrutiny following the shark attack |
Public Speaking | Overcame shyness to become a motivational speaker |
Controversy Regarding Transgender Athletes
Issue | Details |
Boycott WSL | Announced boycott of World Surf League due to transgender policy |
Concerns | Believes transgender women have an unfair |
Bethany Hamilton Net Worth
Bethany Hamilton has a net worth of somewhere near $2million.
Bethany Hamilton Summary
Bethany Hamilton is a professional surfer who gained global recognition after surviving a shark attack in 2003, which resulted in the loss of her left arm. Despite the traumatic injury, she returned to surfing just weeks later, becoming an inspiration for resilience and faith. Hamilton authored the memoir Soul Surfer, which was adapted into a movie, and has participated in various media appearances. She has also launched outreach programs to support amputees and youth, and continues to compete professionally. In addition to her career, Hamilton is a dedicated Christian, wife, and mother of four.
