Official Bio

Bethany Hamilton has become a source of inspiration to millions through her story of determination, faith, and hope. At the age of 13, Bethany lost her left arm to a 14-foot tiger shark, which seemed to end her career as a rising surf star. One month after the attack, Bethany returned to the water and within two years had won her first national title. In 2007, she realized her dream of surfing professionally and since then, her story has been told in a New York Times best selling autobiography and in the 2011 film, Soul Surfer. Bethany is involved in numerous charitable efforts, including The Beautifully Flawed Foundation, which reaches out to amputees and youth, encouraging and offering hope to overcome through Jesus Christ. Using her platform as a professional athlete to promote living a fit and healthy lifestyle, she authored the book Body and Soul in 2014. Bethany’s latest film project, Unstoppable, a surf documentary which showcases her as one of the best women surfers in the world, released theatrically in the USA on July 12, 2019, accompanied by a photo book and a children’s book. Passionate about family and about helping young women be unstoppable in life and faith, Bethany launched the Unstoppable Living online courses in 2019, a mother-daughter mentorship program in 2022, known as the ‘Ohana Experience, along with another children’s book called Surfing Past Fear. Her greatest joy is being a wife and mother, and she continues to touch and inspire lives globally as a professional surfer and motivational speaker.

Resources

Photo Usage Rights and Restrictions:

These photos are available for editorial use with Bethany and the photographer’s permissions as long as you include the photographer’s credit and email with a link to where they are being used. For commercial or advertising use, you will need to contact the photographer directly.

  • Photo Credit: Aaron Lieber
  • Photo Credit: Mike Coots
  • Photo Credit: Trevor Murphy
  • Photo Credit: Mary Ernsdorf @rockingseaphotography
  • Photo Credit: Mary Ernsdorf @rockingseaphotography
  • Photo Credit: Mary Ernsdorf @rockingseaphotography
Video Usage Rights and Restrictions:

Our arrangement with the videographer is that the footage may only be used for public relations and editorial purposes. You may use the footage with Bethany’s and the videographer’s permission as long as you provide credit to: Aaron Lieber / Lieber Films and email with a link to where it is being used.

Video Credit: Aaron Lieber
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Media & Appearances

October 16, 2019 / ET LIVE

Bethany Hamilton Opens Up About Her Documentary ‘Unstoppable’

By Melicia Johnson
Interview with Bethany
Unstoppable is now out on DVD and digital - check iTunes, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Walmart, and other streaming platforms!

October 16, 2019 / GOOD DAY LA

Bethany Hamilton talks new documentary

By Staff
Interview with Bethany - In the new documentary Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppable, we see what drives her. She talked about the movie, her family and the sport she loves.

August 26, 2019 / Lewis Howes podcast

EMBRACING CHALLENGES AND BECOMING A CHAMPION

EP. 841 GRIT CANNOT BE TAUGHT
What does it mean to be unstoppable?
No matter what knocks you down, you stay the course for your goal.
It’s not enough to just withstand the struggle.
You have to embrace the struggle.
Listen to this convo with Bethany and Lewis Howes.

July 11, 2019 / REI's Wild Ideas Worth Living

The Making of Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppable with Director Aaron Lieber

Host Shelby Stanger talks to the film’s director, Aaron Lieber, about working with Bethany, and how he went from being an intern to making feature films. She also talks to Bethany about what it was like to work with Aaron and what she hopes people will take away from the movie.

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