Amazing surfing legacies honoured
THEY’VE both with sharks.
They have also both overcome potentially career-ending injuries.
So it seems right Bethany Hamilton and Gold Coaster Mick Fanning were inducted into Surfers Hall of Fame together at Huntington Beach.
Both put their hand prints had encounters into the wet cement at the famous surf spot as they joined a list of legends as inductees.
Hamilton is one of the most recognised surfers in the world after first capturing headlines when attacked by a shark and losing her arm as a teenager then for remarkably fighting back to surf on the World Series.
Now a mother and subject of the Soul Surfer movie, Hamilton continues to surf select events around the world to much fanfare.
Fanning, who remarkably escaped without a scratch from his famous encounter with a shark two year ago at J-Bay, had overcome a hamstring torn from the bone before going on to win three world titles across the 2007, 2009 and 2013 seasons.
Earlier this year Fanning also received an OAM.
“When you get recognised for awards like this you feel very honoured. And to do it alongside Bethany ... she is such an inspiration. I’ve very honoured to be receiving this with her,” Fanning said.
Both Fanning and Hamilton are involved in charity work with the later backing Friends of Bethany, a foundation which helps amputees.