Bethany Hamilton

(www.google.com)

For me, a hero is someone who doesn’t care about being famous, rich or poor, someone who is intelligent, someone who controls a situation, someone who is strong. A hero never gives up in what she’s doing, is tolerant and patient.

(www.google.com)

"Bethany Hamilton is a teenager who began her career as a surfer with her first competition at age 11. By age 13, she was an accomplished surfer and well-respected in the surfing world. Her lifelong dream of becoming a professional surfer was interrupted on October 31, 2003, as she was attacked by a 14-foot tiger shark while surfing off Kauai’s North Shore. The attack left Bethany with a severed arm but did not destroy her eagerness and courage to continue to pursue her dream." "Bethany has chosen to use her experience to become an inspiration and help others to overcome adversity, no matter how great."

(www.google.com)

Less than a month after the attack, Bethany described her confrontation with the shark to CNN. She said her left arm was laying in the water and her other arm was just holding on to her board and the shark suddenly came up and attacked her and it and pulled her back and forth. It was about a two- to three-second period and when it was attacking her all she saw was a gray blur.

"Since losing her arm, Bethany has been featured all over the media, both nationally and internationally. Her story has been told in dozens of newspapers, magazines, news shows, talk shows, commercials, reality shows, and more." "Bethany has also continued to pursue her dream in the surf world too. Everyone was surprised to see Bethany surfing so soon after her accident. But no one expected her to win 5th place at the National Surfing Championships. Since her attack, Bethany has made numerous finals and has won three contests. In August, at the first stop on the Hawaii NSSA circuit, she took first in the Open Women's division placing ahead of 2003-04 National Champion, Carissa Moore." "Bethany continues to compete in the most challenging waves in the world and amaze everyone by achieving the unimaginable. She dominated the 2005 National Scholastic Surfing Association Nationals Championships, taking 1st place in the Explorer Women’s division."

(www.google.com)

I admire her because she has been a strong person, she has overcome the trauma of a bite but if I would be her, I wouldn’t overcome that’s why I really admire her.