Shark Attack Survivor Beats World's Top Surfers

Bethany Hamilton lost her arm in a shark attack when she was 13 years old

A professional surfer who lost her arm in a shark attack 13 years ago blew away the competition in an impressive performance in Fiji over the weekend, NBC's "Today" reports.

Bethany Hamilton, 26, was an underdog in the World Surf League’s Fiji Women’s Pro, where she went up against a six-time world champion and the world's top-ranked female surfer.

Hamilton stunned spectators to clinch a third-place finish, reaching the semifinals in Tavarua, Fiji. She lost Monday to Johanne Defay of France but still topped her previous career-high finish of ninth in a WLS event.

Hamilton lost her arm when she was attacked by a shark while surfing in Hawaii at the age of 13.

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