Bethany Hamilton (USA, Surfing)

When I broke my arm back in 2006, it took me about four months to hurdle again. A few months later, I set a new personal best in the sprint hurdles. Bethany Hamilton was back riding waves barely a month after a shark attack tore off her left arm.

Photo by Noah Hamilton

She was just thirteen years old when the unfortunate accident happened. The young Bethany was just lazing on her surfboard, watching a bunch of sea turtles swim nearby, when a tiger sharp attacked.

At first, she had to make do with a modified surfboard. In time, she learned how to surf on a standard board with just one arm. Two years after the shark attack, Hamilton was crowned as the National Scholastic Surfing Association champion. In 2008, she became a full fledged surfing professional.

Bethany's amazingly comeback has inspired millions, and made the surfer quite popular. She has guested in countless TV shows and had published a book about her experience in 2004.

Source:

Bethany's Wikipedia Profile

Alex Morgan (USA, Football)

Alex Morgan was the youngest member of the 2011 U.S. Women's World Cup team, which finished runners-up behind Japan. Morgan is a striker and plays her club football for the Seattle Sounders Women. Morgan earned her college degree at the University of Southern California, leading the Golden Bears in goals scored in her freshman and sophomore years.

Photo from Fifa

She made her international debut for the United States for the U20 team in 2008. She had a total of 10 appearances for the youth team, scoring five goals in international competition. Barely out of her teens, Morgan was called up for the senior team in 2010. To date, she has 38 apps and 22 goals in senior competition.

Morgan found the back of the net twice during last year's World Cup in Germany, scoring in the semis against France and in the finals against Japan.