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Teenage surfer Bethany Hamilton of Hawaii, one
of the top amateur sufers in the U.S., returned to
competition just 10 weeks after losing her left arm
in a shark attack. The 13-year-old placed fifth out
of 24 in her age group in the Open Women's Division
of a National Scholastic Surfing Association meet
at Banyans in Kailua Kona, Hawaii. "It was
definitely a good start," Hamilton said. It
was her first meet since the weekend before she was
attacked October 31 but a shark off the Hawaiian
island of Kauai, although she returned to the water
Thanksgiving Day. Hamilton started with a modest 2
foot wave but caught a 6 footer during her
quarterfinal heat. She kicked her left leg to help
propel her 6-foot-2-inch surfboard into waves and
occasionally struggled when pushing off the board
with one hand. "Once I get up on the board, I'm
OK," Hamilton said. "Sometimes it's hard to
get there." She declined offers from
tournament officials for more time between runs and
to be placed in a more favorable heat. "She
rejected any special treatment," said Bobbie Lee,
SSA Hawaii Conference director.
Just one more reason to get back on the horse.
Don't give in to all the reason why it can't be
done. Only looking forward to the possibility. Get
the Hamilton Spirit the next time some obstacle
gets in your way of doing something you really love
and want. Think of this little 13-year-old and what
she did in not a year, but just 10 weeks. Makes
some of the hurdles out in front of success look
pretty small.
Source: USA Today,
1/24/04
Related Issue: How
to Avoid a Shark
Attack,
Notable
Women
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