History of Bethany Hamilton in Timeline
Bethany Hamilton is an American professional surfer who overcame a life-altering shark attack in 2003, where she lost her left arm. Despite this, she courageously returned to professional surfing, becoming an inspirational figure. She authored the autobiography "Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board" (2004), which details her experiences and strong Christian faith. The book was later adapted into a film of the same name in 2011, further sharing her remarkable story of resilience and determination with a wider audience.
February 8, 1990: Birth of Bethany Hamilton
Bethany Meilani Hamilton was born on February 8, 1990, becoming an American professional surfer and writer.
October 31, 2003: Shark Attack Incident
On October 31, 2003, while surfing at Tunnels Beach, Kauai, 13-year-old Bethany Hamilton was attacked by a 14-foot tiger shark, which bit off her left arm. She was rushed to Wilcox Medical Center and survived the ordeal.
November 26, 2003: Return to Surfing
On November 26, 2003, just 26 days after the shark attack, Bethany Hamilton returned to surfing.
2003: Shark Attack
In 2003, Bethany Hamilton survived a shark attack in which her left arm was bitten off.
January 10, 2004: First Major Competition
On January 10, 2004, Bethany Hamilton entered her first major surfing competition after the shark attack.
2004: Soul Surfer book released
In 2004, Bethany Hamilton released her book 'Soul Surfer'.
2004: Awards and Book Publication
In 2004, Bethany Hamilton won the ESPY Award for Best Comeback Athlete and the Courage Teen Choice Award. That same year, MTV Books published her autobiography, 'Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board'.
2004: Autobiography Publication
In 2004, Bethany Hamilton wrote about her experiences in the autobiography, Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board.
2004: Shark Identification Confirmation
In late 2004, police officially confirmed that a 14-foot tiger shark caught and killed near the attack site was the same shark that had attacked Bethany Hamilton.
2007: Release of Heart of a Soul Surfer
In 2007, the short subject documentary film, 'Heart of a Soul Surfer', was released, telling Bethany Hamilton's story with a focus on her faith and courage.
2009: Appearance on "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?"
In 2009, Bethany Hamilton appeared as a contestant on 'Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?' and won $25,000.
2010: Appearance on "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition"
In 2010, Bethany Hamilton appeared on an episode of ABC's 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition'.
2011: I Am Second Video and Soul Surfer Film
In 2011, Bethany Hamilton appeared in a video for the Christian organization 'I Am Second', and the feature film 'Soul Surfer', based on her book, was released, with Hamilton performing the one-armed surfing stunts.
2011: Release of "Soul Surfer" film
In 2011, the book 'Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board' was adapted into the feature film, Soul Surfer.
2012: Meeting Adam Dirks
In early 2012, Bethany Hamilton met youth minister Adam Dirks through mutual friends.
August 18, 2013: Marriage to Adam Dirks
On August 18, 2013, Bethany Hamilton married youth minister Adam Dirks at an estate on Kauai's north shore.
2014: Publication of "Body and Soul"
In 2014, Bethany Hamilton authored the book 'Body and Soul', using her platform to promote a fit and healthy lifestyle.
2014: Dolphin Tale 2 and The Amazing Race
In 2014, Bethany Hamilton played herself in the film 'Dolphin Tale 2', and she and her husband, Adam Dirks, competed on the 25th season of 'The Amazing Race', finishing in third place.
2018: Documentary Release
In 2018, the documentary 'Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppable' was released, in which she discusses how marriage and motherhood have affected her professional surfing career.
2019: Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppable Documentary
In 2019, a surf documentary was made about Bethany Hamilton, titled 'Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppable', which was accompanied by a photo book and a children's book.
January 2023: World Surf League Boycott Announcement
In January 2023, Bethany Hamilton announced that she would boycott all World Surf League events following their decision to allow transgender women to compete in the female category, sparking controversy.
2024: The Masked Singer Competition
In 2024, Bethany Hamilton competed as "Macaron" on season twelve of 'The Masked Singer', becoming the first amputee to compete on the show; she was eliminated in the "Group C Premiere".
Mentioned in this timeline
Sharks are cartilaginous fish belonging to the group Selachii characterized...
The tiger is a large cat species native to Asia...
Books are a means of storing information as text or...
Dolphins are aquatic mammals belonging to the cetacean clade Odontoceti...
The heart a muscular organ in humans and animals pumps...
Shark attacks on humans are relatively rare with around unprovoked...
Trending
48 minutes ago Alcaraz and Sinner Clash for Monte Carlo Title and No. 1 Ranking.
48 minutes ago Katy Perry and Justin Trudeau Enjoy Justin Bieber Performance at Coachella.
48 minutes ago Carl's Jr. Franchisee Faces Bankruptcy: California's Wage Hike Blamed, Locations at Risk.
49 minutes ago Cuban President Díaz-Canel Refuses to Resign, Willing to Fight for Revolution.
2 hours ago Charlie's Angels Stars Reunite for 50th Anniversary; Cheryl Ladd Reveals Cancer Diagnosis
3 hours ago Ben Affleck gifts Jennifer Lopez his share of their $60 million Beverly Hills mansion.
Popular
Paula White-Cain is a prominent American televangelist and key figure...
William Franklin Graham III commonly known as Franklin Graham is...
Melania Trump is a Slovenian-American former model who served as...
Eric Swalwell is an American lawyer and politician currently serving...
J D Vance is an American politician and author He...
XXXTentacion born Jahseh Dwayne Ricardo Onfroy was a controversial yet...