“When you fall in the impact zone, get up, because you never know what’s over the next wave” (Hamilton). This quote really ties into Bethany Hamilton’s life. Her tragic shark attack gave many people the will to keep fighting. She will always be remembered as the soul surfer. Bethany Hamilton was a competitive surfer at the age of eight and had a sponsorship at age nine. Alana Blanchard, her best friend, also surfed with her when she was eight. Bethany had two older brothers, Tim and Noah, who were very athletic kids which made Bethany tough because she would always compete with them in surfing, soccer and football. “Her parents Tom and Cheri were also surfers like Bethany, as well as her brothers” (Bio.) Her brother Noah was actually her …show more content…
“On October 31, 2003, Hamilton went out to surf at Tunnels Beach in Ha'ena with her best friend, Alana Blanchard, and Blanchard's father and brother. While lying on her board, Hamilton suddenly felt intense pressure on her left arm and was pulled back and forth for a few seconds before the flurry passed” (Bio.). On this day a 14 foot tiger shark had taken Bethany Hamilton’s arm. When this event took place her dad was about to have knee surgery and when Bethany came into the hospital, and she took her dad’s operating room. Alana Blanchard’s dad made a tourniquet which saved her life. She had lost 60% of her blood when she arrived at the hospital. She said that she felt no pain until she had looked at her arm, and that remembering it was like remembering a bad dream. “I watched in shock as the water turned bright red”(Hamilton, 4). Bethany also said that “I’m glad I never saw the shark closing in on me. I’m glad I never had more than a split second to wrap my brain around the fact that I was being attacked” (Hamilton, 69).The paramedics told Bethany that “god will never leave you or forsake you. He was right” (Hamilton, 79) and she believed it because god was her everything. A month later she was back to surfing like everyone believed would happened. Soon after surgery she had told her dad she wanted to be a photographer because she didn’t know if he would ever get in the water again. Her 14 …show more content…
She showed the world that losing an arm wasn’t an obstacle and that life still goes on. After she got back to surfing she went pro and won the pro circuit in 2004. Chris Cuomo suggested the idea for her movie which came out in 2011. She began dating Adam Dirks in 2012 and they were married by 2013. They went on the amazing race together and finished third overall. Bethany became pregnant in 2015 and had her son Tobias later that year. Bethany credits her attack and movie for most of the fame in her life. Bethany is still surfing today and plans to teach Tobias to surf when he is old
He began swimming at the age of nine for safety reasons. In light of, a swim coach saw the capacity he exhibited and asked if he wanted to join the swim team for competitive swimmers. In a matter of time, Jarrod was moving up in the levels of the competitive swim club. It was only a matter of 3 years that he moved up to the final level which is exceptionally well since he was a fifth grader in a high school level. To the present he only swims for high school and has made state every year so far. During his sophomore year Jarrod won second in the 200 IM in the state of Oklahoma for 5a
In “Lydia’s Story,” nurse Jan Brideau describes the tragedies of Hurricane Katrina. The author elaborates how countless people had the hope and determination in the face of terrible adversity. The story stresses the importance of keeping your thoughts in a positive mindset, but also shows the reader that moving forward is only half the battle, and sharing your story to others finishes the fight. The tragedy of Hurricane Katrina is remembered from the survivors who never lost hope.
It was a warm rainy June night the humidity was high which made it even harder to breathe on the crammed boat. My family was asleep on the constantly rocking boat suddenly the boat shook, but my family was still fast asleep. I couldn’t seem to fall asleep so I got up and stepped out on the cold wet steel boats upper deck to get some air. When I got outside I realized that it was pouring bucket sized rain. I saw increasingly large waves crash furiously against the lower deck. Hard water droplets pelted my face, I could taste the salt water in my mouth from the spray of the ocean. Suddenly A massive wave slammed hard against the ship and almost swallowed the boat. Wind gusts started kicking up. I held onto the rail grasping it as if it were my prized possession. Suddenly I was blown
Kerri Strug is remembered today for her performance at the 1996 Summer Olympics, but very few people know the rest of her story. Kerri was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona. The Strugs were a family of five, and Kerri was the youngest. She had both an older brother and an older sister. Although Kerri had many outstanding accomplishments as a gymnast, her vault on July 23, 1996, earned her a place in gymnastics’ history. Kerri was limping because on her first attempt she fell and sprained her left ankle. After she finished somersaulting through the air, Kerri stuck the landing on one foot and then collapsed in tears. Kerri’s story is one of great courage (“Heart” 12).
Working her way to the top, earning the nickname “Golden Girl”, Kerri has seen five Olympic experiences and is training for her sixth. In 2000, Walsh’s team placed fourth for indoor Volleyball, her senior of college. Heading to the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece, Kerri Walsh and her partner, Misty May-Treanor, had an 89-game win streak. Winning her first gold at the 2004 Olympics, this was her first great success with her new partner and in beach volleyball. Again at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, the team fought and won gold. Not only did win, but they broke the records of winning one hundred and twelve matches in a row! (Kerri Walsh Jennings Biography) Walsh is known as unstoppable; she competed pregnant with her son Joseph in the 2008 Olympic Games. As the 2012 Olympics games rolled around, Kerri was pregnant with Scout. Of course, that didn’t stop her. The team in their 11-year run, won gold yet again. Walsh Jennings and May-Treanor won twenty-one consecutive Olympic matches and only lost one set (to Austria in 2012) during their incredible run together. (Kerri Walsh Jennings). Kerri Walsh Jennings and Misty May-Treanor were known as virtually unstoppable for more than a decade. The team earned the nickname “Golden Girls” as a result in their success. In 2003, they were named “Team of the Year” (Kerri Walsh Jennings Biography). With a new partner, April Ross, the team medaled
Josh Hamilton found the strength to come back from hard times. He grew up playing baseball being the #1 prospect in the 1999 draft . He was drafted right out of high school being the #1 pick by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. That was his dream to be a MLB player which means Major League Baseball. Now he had more money in his life than he knew what to do with. Later in his career he had to fight the difficulty of drug addiction. Josh Hamilton was and is still a believer in Jesus Christ.
First there was the ground that wasn’t as firm as I thought it was; my right sneaker falling victim to the deceptive scattered branches that littered the floor, probably only inches thick, allowing water to creep in and wet my sock. Then there were the dead branches that I tried to use as a bridge to avoid this, which snapped under my overbearing 150 pounds. And of course every branch was connected to the last by a series of intricate spider webs; every one I ducked to get under just happened to have a neighbor right underneath. The list goes on. But the small wound where the palm of my hand met my thumb didn’t seem like it would be a big deal until I was back in the boat. I didn’t realize that it would trigger such intense emotions and drag me so deep into a pit of despair.
Surfing has come a long way since it was first conceived (roughly 1500 years ago). From the Polynesian “watermen” and Hawaiian Kings, to the European takeover in Hawaii and surfing's American debut in the early twentieth century and all the way through present day, surfing has had a rich history. Over the decades, surfing has fit in to a number of roles in society, but whether we surfers are seen as beach-bums or heroes (as of late), we still surf only because we love it, because the ocean’s calls us, because nothing else on this planet can create the sensation felt by riding a wave.
... not have a nametag. Her recovery helps to relate to the audience and show them that they can turn previously vague goals into vivid realities. Bethany may have suffered the loss of an arm, but surely, she overcame and has inspired numerous people today to fulfill their dreams. Standing full, whole, and restored Bethany Hamilton is an inspirational person who surfs because she is drawn from the soul.
Manta rays, humpback whales, and dolphins are all gentle giants of the sea. These playful creatures enjoy leaping out of water, creating an unforgettable experience for the tourists of Hawaii (Saito). On the other hand, jellyfish and sharks cause fear in beachgoers because their attacks can lead to painful and life threatening injuries. Swimmers in Hawaii are often victimized by box jellyfish. The stings hurt quite a bit and cause an unpleasant burning sensation. Some people even suffer from a severe allergic reaction to the toxin and are hospitalized (“Dangers in Hawaii”). People may also be hospitalized from shark attacks. Three to four shark attacks occur each year in Hawaii, usually resulting in only the loss of an appendage. However, numerous shark sightings as close as twenty yards away from shore to as far as out at sea have been reported. Jan TenBruggencate’s article, "A Shark Bites off Left Arm of Teenage Kauai Surfer,” tells the story of thirteen-year-old Bethany Hamilton who fell victim to a shark attack in October of 2003. While surfing in Hawaii, a shark estimated to be 12 to 15 feet long bit into Bethany’s surfboard and took a majority of her left arm. Other major shark attacks include Joe Thomson, 1985, who lost his right forearm, Michael Coots, 1997, who lost the lower portion of his right leg, and Hokuanu Aki, 2002, who lost his left foot. Each victim had to fight with the shark to break free and were lucky to escape with minimal
After Nadia Comaneci trained for one year, she was ready to compete, at just age seven. She entered the Romanian National Junior Gymnastics Championships, and got thirteenth place all around. After the competition, Bela Karolyi went up to Nadia and gave her a doll, and told her to never get thirteenth place again. Nadia did just that, and next year at age eight, she entered the Romanian National Junior Gymnastics Championships once again, and got first. She was the youngest gymnast to ever win that all around title.
The night of December 2nd 1992 Karen Norman and her passenger were drinking heavily. Bored, they decided to go visit “The Face” something of an urban legend in Galveston. The Face is what appears to be a man’s face emblazoned on the exterior wall on the second floor of Ewing Hall at the University of Texas. The Face was notorious in Galveston; the legend was if you stared into the eyes of “the Face” you could die. In a dance with death; Karen Norman and her passenger Josel Woods pulled up the Galveston Bay and drove up to a point where they could view “the Face”. After sitting there for an hour underwhelmed by the killing power of “the Face” they decided to go home. Karen Norman and her passenger stepped into Norman’s 1991 Honda Civic. As Karen Norman sat down the two point passive restraint system, a mechanically operated seatbelt which automatically draws taut over the shoulder, engaged. Karen buckled her lap belt manually and put her car into reverse, her passenger Josel Woods wasn’t wearing a seatbelt. Unbeknownst to her Norman was reversing down a boat ramp and into the Galveston Bay. When the car hit the water the automatic seatbelt pulled tightly over Karen’s shoulder in reaction to the cars’ speedy deceleration. As the car was slowly sinking into the water Josel Woods looked over to Norman who seemed fine. Woods manually rolled the passenger window down and climbed out. She even turned back to grab her purse out of the car. Woods then swam toward the boat ramp, however, as she was swimming towards the boat ramp she heard Karen Norman scream out, “Help me. I can’t get my seatbelt undone.” Woods noted that Norman yelled out about being stuck again as Woods reached the bo...
Bethany Hamilton is an example of dealing with change in an optimistic way. In October 2003, Bethany was attacked by a shark while out surfing in Tunnels beach, Hawaii. Without warning, a Tiger shark attacked her surfboard, dragging her back and forth and then disappearing into the ocean. Bethany was able to compose herself to use her right arm to swim back to the shore. She was later taken to hospital with severe injuries, where her left arm was amputated. She came through her recovery with things that were important to her, such as her family and her Christian faith. Despite the trauma of the incident, Hamilton was determined to return to surfing. Just 10 weeks after the accident, she returned to the ocean and went surfing again. She adjusted to the change by using a custom made surfboard and changing her surfing style. Bethany taught herself to surf with only one arm and she also began surfing competitively in competitions again. Hamilton claims that the loss of her arm was a blessing in disguise.
When I was 5 years old, Dad woke me up one morning and informed me that he was finally going to teach me how to surf. I was ecstatic. I used to watch my brothers in envy as I crouched on the damp sand with my head between my hands resting on my knees, sulking at the fact that I wasn’t allowed to surf until I was 5.
Rolling waves gently brushed upon the sand and nipped softly at my toes. I gazed out into the oblivion of blue hue that lay before me. I stared hopefully at sun-filled sky, but I couldn’t help but wonder how I was going to get through the day. Honestly, I never thought in a million years that my daughter and I would be homeless. Oh, how I yearned for our house in the suburbs. A pain wrenched at my heart when I was once reminded again of my beloved husband, Peter. I missed him so much and couldn’t help but ask God why he was taken from us. Living underneath Pier 14 was no life for Emily and me. I had to get us out of here and back on our feet. My stomach moaned angrily. I needed to somehow find food for us, but how? Suddenly, something slimy brushed up against my leg and pierced my thoughts. I jumped back and brushed the residue of sand of my legs. What was that? As my eyes skimmed the water in front of me, I noticed something spinning in the foam of the waves. Curiosity got the best of me and I went over to take a closer look. The object danced in the waves and eventually was coughed out onto the beach. “Emily!” I called to my eight-year-old daughter who was, at that time, infatuated with a seashell that she found earlier that day. “Come here and see this! Mommy found something.” Although I had no idea what that something was and I definitely didn’t know it would change my life forever.