The name of the American athlete Bethany Hamilton was recognized by people all over the world, even not interested in professional sports. Bethany survived a shark bite and returned to professional sports. Documentary and feature films were made about the life of an unbroken girl.
Teen drama
Bethany was born in Hawaii in 1990. Parents and two brothers were fond of surfing, and at the age of 8, the girl also took part in competitions. A beautiful young athlete, year after year, won prizes in more and more serious tournaments.
When Bethany was 13, she rode the board one morning with friends. As she lay with her left hand in the water, she was attacked by a tiger shark. On the beach, my father put on a tourniquet using a surfboard strap. After being attacked by a predator, the girl lost 60% of her blood while she was taken to the hospital. She completely lost her arm - up to the shoulder.
The professional doesn't give up
The thought of continuing a sports career did not occur to parents or others: it was about survival. Three weeks later, Bethany was again on the board, and after a month and a half she began to train seriously. In surfing without a hand, it was impossible to use past skills, and the athlete had to learn everything anew. A board was developed for her, on which it was convenient to rake with one hand.
Despite her disability, the girl has repeatedly won prestigious competitions. She received the ESPY Award for her will to win and her return to the sport in 2004, and a documentary was made in 2007.
The story of an unbroken spirit has inspired people all over the world. In 2004, Bethany wrote an autobiography about the struggle to return to her favorite sport. Bethany was not the only victim of a tiger shark: similar cases have occurred over the years. The story of the girl stands out for her attitude to her beloved work. In sports, no concessions are made, and you have to fight with full-fledged people on equal terms. Bethany made it to the qualifiers for the World Junior Championships, where she finished second in 2009.
Life story in cinema
In 2011, the girl's story was recreated in the feature film Soul Surfer. The scene with the shark attack turned out like in real life. The American drama was based on Bethany's book, but the filmmakers additionally interviewed relatives to find out details that the girl might have missed in her autobiography. In the United States, the film's screening gross was $ 44 million.
The mark from a shark bite remained on the board, which is now kept in the California Surfing Museum. There is hardly a person who is indifferent to the history of an athlete with a strong character.
