Surfer Bethany Hamilton has faced it all — fierce competitions, devastating wipeouts and even the loss of her left arm in a shark attack at just 13 years old — yet continues to ride the waves of life with perseverance, faith and unwavering joy. “Every day is a blessing,” Hamilton told an audience of over 50 Stanford students on Saturday.
Just 26 days after the attack, Hamilton surprised the world by returning to surfing. Speaking at a Q&A event hosted by Stanford sorority Delta Delta Delta (TriDelt), Hamilton attributed her resilience to gratitude, faith and a supportive community.
“I remember waking up at the hospital, and I was very grateful to be alive,” she said. “I think that gratitude really helped project me towards thinking of what’s possible instead of focusing on my arm.”
Hamilton emphasized the importance of breaking out of negative thought patterns about “how life could have been” and looking outward instead of fixating on self-doubt and insecurity.
Hamilton was devastated at first by the prospect of losing her ability to surf. But Mike Coots, a surfer who lost his leg in a shark attack, encouraged her to continue surfing, even with one arm.
“Sometimes life can get overwhelming, and I think our culture is very much ‘look inward,’ but in those moments, that’s when you need to look outward and find someone who has been through it, or who is overcoming super hard things,” Hamilton said. “Mike’s [words] were all I needed, and I still surf with him to this day.”
Hamilton’s story, which she told in her 2004 autobiography “Soul Surfer,” became world famous. Her book was later developed into a major motion picture that grossed $47.1 million worldwide. At such a young age, handling this fame was difficult, but she took refuge in surfing as “an outlet” and “a place of peace.”
In addition to gratitude and support, Hamilton credited her faith as a cornerstone of her resilience. Trusting that a divine power was continually working to bring good into the world, she said, helped her believe that her life still held purpose after she lost her arm.
“When I see the world, I see a lot of hurt and pain but also a lot of beauty and goodness,” she said. “Try to take life with proactiveness and try to recognize the areas in your life that are not going well. We need to problem solve and not get stopped by those problems but adapt through them.”
Students in the audience expressed awe at Hamilton’s story. Some resonated with her athletic career.
“I think she is really inspiring. I surf occasionally, so it was really cool to hear her speak,” said field hockey player Scout Butler ’26. “She gave us some really interesting things to think about… [Stanford] should host more athletes.”
Others, like Stella Vangelis ’28, appreciated Hamilton’s insights despite having different backgrounds.
“It was so genuine. The lessons of staying positive and motivated are universal,” she said. “I didn’t experience anything of what she talked about, but it felt very true to me.”
Alongside her competitive surfing career, Hamilton also runs a mentorship program for young adults and a mother-daughter coaching program. Hamilton said that purpose and success come from a deeper place than being the best in the sport.
“I might have been world champ. I definitely had the talent, drive, family support and willingness to be coached. I could have gone on, but I didn’t. The result of my life, though, and the ripple effect of the life that I have lived is so much more beautiful than me just killing it in my sport and having an incredible career,” Hamilton said.