LOOK: Surfer who lost arm in shark attack upsets world No. 1
Bethany Hamilton beats the world's best
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1 min read
Maybe it's time for Soul Surfer 2.
Bethany Hamilton is known worldwide for having survived a vicious shark attack in which she lost her left arm from the shoulder down.
It's been 13 years since the attack, and the 26-year-old surfer is now garnering attention for her performance in the ocean.
According to the New York Times, Hamilton was recently given a wild-card berth into a World Surf League event in Fiji. Despite the obvious drawbacks of surfing with a single arm (paddling, balance, etc.), Hamilton managed to defeat the world's No. 1 female surfer, Tyler Wright, in a head-to-head heat.
Hamilton pulled off the massive upset by earning a score of 9.0 on her second ride, giving her a total of 16.1 -- easily beating Wright's 14.9.
Hamilton went on to the semifinals of the tournament before being eliminated by eventual champion Johanne Defay. It was the best finish of Hamilton's career thus far.
Most people thought it was remarkable that Hamilton even returned to the water after such a traumatic experience. It's hard to believe that she's not only competing in professional events, but now she's close to winning them.
