Mary Reilly (1996)

Bethany Hamilton shares her story in this 2019 documentary film directed by Aaron Lieber. She stars as herself as she takes the viewers on her journey through surfing ocean waves. She lost her left arm in a 2003 shark attack when she was only 13. Still, she was able to get back up on her feet after a period of recovery and, with determination to return to surfing, build and find the courage within herself.

This article will discuss how Bethany Hamilton deals with her life as a disabled female athlete and how she became an inspirational role model to children and adults alike.

For one, surfing is all about courage. Bethany Hamilton was born and raised by a family of surfers; her parents and two older brothers were also surfers like her. She started entering surf competitions at a young age, as early as 8, knowing that she always dreamed of becoming a professional surfer. When she got attacked by a shark and lost her arm, she prayed to God to keep her safe and alive. She had several surgeries following the shark attack, but the loss of her arm couldn't stop her. In a few weeks, Bethany Hamilton was back on her board.

She wrote about her experiences in her 2004 autobiography Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board, which inspired the movie Soul Surfer. In several printed media outlets, like newspaper articles, Bethany Hamilton is described by most people as "disabled," "shark attack victim," and "shark attack survivor;" all of these nicknames centered around the loss of her arm, her shark attack survival, and recovery. Still, she continues to break boundaries and become a champion.