Bethany Hamilton is a professional surfer from Hawaii who lost her left arm in a shark attack at age 13 while surfing near Kauai. Only 10 weeks after the 2003 incident where a tiger shark bit off her arm just below the shoulder, she returned to competitive surfing. She has since won competitions such as the ESPY award for best comeback of an athlete of the year in 2004 and placed first in the Open Women's Division of the National Scholastic Surfing Association in 2002 and 2005 national competitions.