Bethany Hamilton Wows the World with Incredible Fiji Pro Performance

Bethany Hamilton is a badass. There is no other way to put it. Bethany, shark attack survivor, global sporting icon and wildcard into the Fiji Women’s Pro, was in sensational form during the Fiji Women’s Pro. The world tuned-in to watch Bethany attack Cloudbreak and take down the world’s best surfers.

Photo: WSL / Sloane

In October 2003, Bethany was 13 and a rising star in the Hawaiian surfing community of Hanalei when a 1,400-pound tiger shark attacked her as she surfed with friends. She lost her left arm, just below the shoulder, and nearly died from loss of blood but was back in the water a month later.

This weekend, Bethany was invited to the surfing competition in Fiji after earning a wild-card spot. She brought along her husband and young son.

“Even after losing my arm,” she said, “I’m still doing everything I’ve hoped I could do in my future and even more.”

Photo: WSL / Sloane

Bethany absolutely dominated in the event as she defeat the current World No. 1 Tyler Wright and blazed past six-time World Champion Stephanie Gilmore. Bethany finished third in the event, after her fall to event winner Johanne Defay. 

Despite the loss, Bethany said that she was stoked with her performance in the competition and that she hoped her story continued to inspire young girls to keep pursuing their dreams.

“I know I’m in a unique position to hopefully encourage young girls to make great decisions as they’re growing into women and to chase their dreams,” she said. “I think I’m just a reminder for the young girls that, ‘Hey, you can do it if you set your mind to it.’”

This performance is just one sampling of her incredible feats. A few months ago, Bethany also joined the big wave community and dominated the monster waves at Jaws (only 4 months after giving birth to her son). Bethany not only inspires us to charge, but to be better in every way. We are so lucky to have such a role model like her. Wow. Just wow.