"Soul Surfer" Bethany Hamilton, who lost her left arm in a shark attack in Hawaii back in 2003, is full of gratitude for her success in placing third during the elite Fiji Women's Pro surfing competition. The Christian athlete was actually considered a "wild card" in the competition; hence, her Top 3 finish was quite a welcome surprise.
French surfer Johanne Defay took home top honours, followed by Carissa Moore, also from Hawaii, according to the Star Advertiser.
"Coming here and competing in the Fiji Women's Pro is a dream come true and I am stoked with how I did," Hamilton says. "The women on the championship tour are surfing amazing right now and the level continues to get better and better. I have so much respect for all the girls and it has been an amazing time here. I am so thankful for my husband's and family's support and all of my fans for cheering me on. It has been an incredible experience."
Meanwhile, The New York Times called Hamilton's third-place win her "best result in six World Surf League events, topping a ninth-place finish in 2010."
Hamilton is arguably one of the most popular surfers in the world, not just because of her ability to conquer waves, but more so because of her incredible story of recovery. Her life story has been translated into film, with Anna Sophia Robb portraying her and Dennis Quaid and Helen Hunt playing her parents.
She even joined "The Amazing Race" in 2014 with her husband Adam Dirks, and the two managed to place third in the competition. Just last year, the two entered into another adventure—parenthood—as they welcomed their son Tobias Dirks.
On her Instagram account (@bethanyhamilton), Hamilton celebrated her son's first birthday by posting a photo of Tobias playing by the beach. "This was one of the best years ever, and yes it has flown by! It's been so much fun watching Tobias grow and develop and to have fun adventures together. On to more fun as a family!" she wrote.
