<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">KAILUA, Hawai'i — Teen surfer Bethany Hamilton returned to competition yesterday, just 10 weeks after losing her left arm in a shark attack.

Bethany Hamilton, 13, placed fifth in her age group in her first competition since losing her left arm in a shark attack.
Associated Press

"It was definitely a good start," Hamilton said.

It was Hamilton's first meet since the weekend before she was attacked Oct. 31, although she returned to the water Thanksgiving Day.

Hamilton began with a modest 2-foot wave, but caught a 6-footer during her quarterfinal heat. She kicked her left leg to help propel her 6-foot-2 surfboard into waves, and occasionally struggled when pushing off the board with one hand.</font>