One-armed surfer Bethany Hamilton has finished third, a career-best position, in the World Surf League’s Fiji Women’s Pro.
The 26-year-old finished in front of the world No1 Tyler Wright and Stephanie Gilmore, a six-times world champion, before losing to the eventual winner, Johanne Defay, in the semi-finals.
“Beyond stoked to finish 3rd ... as the wildcard! LOVED competing & looking forward to more adventures,” tweeted Hamilton, who was 13 when a tiger shark mauled her in 2003, severing her left arm.
Beyond stoked to finish 3rd in the #FijiPro as the wildcard! LOVED competing & looking forward to more adventures!!! pic.twitter.com/HOMhAEXnjb
— Bethany Hamilton (@bethanyhamilton) May 31, 2016
Hamilton, who was born in Hawaii, embarked on intensive physical therapy and strengthening exercises to adjust her balance and movements to compensate for the missing arm and was back on a board less than a month after the attack. The only concession made to her handicap is a handle on the surfboard.
Her story has been captured in film, inspiring the 2011 Hollywood movie “Soul Surfer”, featuring Dennis Quaid and Helen Hunt.
