Figure skater loses gold medal chance after fall — but it freed her to perform the most outrageous stunt ever

Defying societal expectations is like breaking free from invisible chains. It is like unleashing countless opportunities and exhilarating possibilities in the future. Those who emerge successful through the predetermined limits, become living testaments to the limitless potential of the human spirit. The French figure skater, Surya Bonaly, who performed an outrageous backflip at the 1998 Olympics in Japan, epitomizes this profound truth. Notably, backflips were, and still are, considered illegal in competitions under the International Skating Union (ISU). After Bonaly’s performance, the stunt was never seen again in Olympic competition.

“At first I was almost ashamed… Maybe I'm going to be hated forever. I'm not that [much of] a rebel. I appreciate it (the iconic backflip) more and I feel more proud of myself, now and today than years ago for when I did it," Bonaly shared in an in-depth interview for the Olympic Games. The three-time World Cup silver medalist further acknowledged that she performed the dangerous stunt knowing that it could negatively affect her scores, which eventually happened. However, her strong determination, resilience and desire to do something that will forever be remembered won the battle. “I think as a pioneer, I think, that is most important to be able to say that,” the world-famous athlete revealed. Though Bonaly never won an Olympic medal, she became a global icon for being the first and only skater to perform a backflip and land on one blade, as seen on Olympic Figure Skating's YouTube. Her name is now synonymous with this phenomenal move.

While Bonaly is widely known for her historic backflip, she also made history at the 1992 Albertville Olympics as the first woman to attempt a quadruple toe loop. Unfortunately, her jump fell short of a full rotation, forcing her to complete it on the ice. As a result, Bonaly's attempt was ruled invalid by the ISU. Remarkably, it took 30 years for another woman to land a quad jump in the Olympic free skate, a feat finally achieved by Russia's Kamila Valieva in 2022. “It’s amazing to think it took that long for it to happen at the Olympics, that it was 30 years ago that I was really pushing myself to go forward,” Bonaly shared with TODAY.

Bonaly’s journey to becoming one of figure skating's most renowned athletes was far from easy. Her challenging and unconventional childhood played a significant role in shaping her path. Born in Nice, France, in 1973, she was placed in an orphanage shortly after birth by her biological mother. Initially, Bonaly was named Claudine at the orphanage. Later, at just eight months old, she was adopted by a white couple, Suzanne and Georges, who gave her the name Surya. The nine-time French National Champion's professional career was marred by negativity, which she believed was due to her race. "Yes. If I had been white, maybe I would have had my title long ago… but who knows?" Bonaly shared with Olympic Games officials. Reflecting on her experiences, Bonaly recalled, "Actually, really bad! Or awful!" describing the challenges she faced because of her background. At the time, she felt forced to "accept and just shut up," as speaking out against the injustice seemed impossible. However, she noted that society is slowly evolving, becoming more inclusive and open-minded. “You should be able to speak up as long as you don't hurt anyone physically and mentally,” Bonaly asserted.