Lessons in Greatness

It was a warm morning, perfect for the beach, when 13-year-old surfing champion Bethany Hamilton paddled out on her board to catch some waves with her friends. Already one of the most talked-about young surfers in Hawaii, Bethany had a score of championships to her name and was well on her way to living her dream of becoming a professional.

But something happened in the water on the morning of October 31, 2003, that threatened to end Bethany’s dream forever: A 14-foot tiger shark swiftly approached and bit off her left arm only two inches below her shoulder. Bethany’s incredible story has been turned into a movie, Soul Surfer, and was released in theatres last weekend.