Shark-Attack Survivor Accepts National “Free Spirit” Honor
Bethany Hamilton, a shark-attack survivor who overcame the loss of her left arm to return to the sport of surfing, has been acclaimed as a 2004 Free Spirit honoree.

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Courageous Hawaiian Bethany Hamilton, a shark-attack survivor who overcame the loss of her left arm to return to the sport of surfing, has been acclaimed as a 2004 Free Spirit honoree. The award is sponsored by the Freedom Forum, a nonpartisan foundation dedicated to free speech and a free press. Hamilton was honored at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., on March 23. A $10,000 stipend accompanies the award.

Winning her first competition in 2001 at age 11, Hamilton took the inaugural step toward her dream of becoming a professional surfer. By the age of 13, Hamilton was well on her way to a fruitful career in surfing, when a terrifying event interrupted her goal. On October 31, 2003, while surfing in Kauai, Hawaii, she was attacked by a 14-foot tiger shark.

Yet, the loss of her arm only strengthened Hamilton's determination to achieve her dreams. Since her recovery, Hamilton has gone on to win fifth place in the 2004 National Surfing Championships and first in the Open Women's division of the Hawaii National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA), along with several other contests and surfing finals.

Hamilton also uses her experience to motivate others to overcome adversity. She has written a book about her rehabilitation and subsequent success – Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board – and has established a Web site (www.bethanyhamilton.com) to share her inspirational story with others. World Vision, a not-for-profit organization that helps children with disabilities, will receive a portion of the sales from Hamilton’s just-released line of perfume.

Hamilton also won the 2004 ESPY Award for Best Comeback Athlete and was presented with a special Courage Award by Janet Jackson at the 2004 Teen Choice Awards. She will resume NSSA competition in the Explorer Women’s Preliminary Rounds, June 16-17, at Salt Creek, Dana Point, California.

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