Even the world’s most famous person can harbor insecurities beneath their seemingly flawless exterior. Born with a physical impairment, Brianna Cope has endured a lifelong struggle to conceal her condition. Now, the surfer bravely opens up about the harsh bullying she faced during her childhood, shedding light on her journey.

Brianna found that surfing not only became her passion but also served as a means to conceal her greatest secret. With a deformed left hand, she would discreetly submerge it beneath the water’s surface. Can embracing our vulnerabilities and passions simultaneously be the key to overcoming adversity?

Cope thrives through surfing despite childhood hardships

Cope, who hails from the island of Kauai in Hawaii, has faced unique challenges throughout her life due to her deformed left hand. She began her surfing journey at the age of four. Competing in local surf competitions from the young age of ten. However, in a recent interview with Olympics.com, Cope bravely revealed the harsh realities of her childhood. Reflecting on those difficult times, she shared, “My mom said all through first and second and third grade, ‘I would cry every single day, not want to go to school.”

Cope’s struggle with insecurity about her hands began in elementary school, leading her to be uncomfortable and hide them while surfing to avoid questions. She explained, “You can even see the transition in my baby photos (where) my hands are always open. And then when I started going to elementary, I’d always close my hands in photos. I didn’t want to be asked about it.? High school provided a more positive environment due to her surfing and competitive achievements.

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“Talking about it is important because with social media, many kids are also bullied and people can relate,” shares the athlete, emphasizing the significance of her experiences. Despite the adversity, Cope channeled her distress into becoming a better surfer. She now recognizes her unique hand condition as her “superpower” that contributes to her speed in the water.

Brianna Cope’s surfing triumphs inspire resilience and hope

Surfing became a transformative experience for Brianna Cope, enabling her to both conceal her hand and turn it into an advantage. As she bravely shared, “I think I’m faster at paddling because I don’t have fingers so I don’t have any drag.”?She decided to speak openly about her birth defect, in the 2019 film, Surfing to Cope.

Her exceptional surfing skills brought her close to qualifying for the World Championship Tour in 2014 and 2015. Recently, she received the opportunity to represent Team USA in the 2023 ISA World Surfing Games held in El Salvador. Demonstrating her determination, Cope pushed herself further by running her first half-marathon, the grueling Hell on the Hill race in Georgia, just a week before the Games.

Despite her nervousness and the formidable competition, including surfers like Carissa Moore and Caroline Marks, she embraced the challenge, emphasizing the importance of stepping out of one’s comfort zone. Going beyond surfing, Cope plans to run another half-marathon in October, supporting a cancer charity. Brianna Cope’s journey from facing childhood bullying to becoming a resilient surfer inspires others to overcome adversity with courage and determination.

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