Some athletes are remembered for their medals, but others become icons for their fearless defiance. Surya Bonaly, a French figure skater known for her power and innovation, made history at the 1998 Nagano Olympics with a move so daring it was illegal—a backflip landed on one blade.
Though she never won Olympic gold, Bonaly’s legendary stunt remains one of the most unforgettable moments in figure skating history.
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A decision that defied the odds
By 1998, Bonaly had already earned three World Championship silver medals, but she had also faced years of being overlooked by judges. When she fell during her Olympic routine, she realized her chance for a medal was gone.
Rather than playing it safe, she took a huge risk.
Knowing that a backflip was banned by the International Skating Union (ISU), Bonaly did it anyway—and landed on one blade. It was the first and only time the move had ever been done at the Olympics.
Surya Bonaly at a figure skating gala in Nuremberg in 2007.Photo by David W. Carmichael | Wikimedia Commons
‘I thought I’d be hated forever’
The move shocked the judges and led to a penalty, but Bonaly didn’t care. Years later, she reflected on her decision with an in-depth interview for the Olympic Games:
"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."
Surya Bonaly at the ISU-Schaulaufen in West-Berlin 1992Photo via Wikimedia Commons
A career of groundbreaking firsts
Though Bonaly is best known for her backflip, she also made history at the 1992 Albertville Olympics when she became the first woman to attempt a quadruple toe loop. The jump wasn’t fully rotated, so it wasn’t recognized, but it took 30 years before another woman—Russia’s Kamila Valieva in 2022—landed a quad jump in an Olympic free skate.
"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 told TODAY.
A journey shaped by challenges
Bonaly’s path to success wasn’t easy. Born in Nice, France, in 1973, she was placed in an orphanage as an infant before being adopted by a white French couple at just eight months old. Originally named Claudine, she was given the name Surya after her adoption.
Despite her talent, Bonaly often felt like an outsider in the figure skating world. She believed her race played a role in how she was judged.
"Yes. If I had been white, maybe I would have had my title long ago… but who knows?" she told Olympic Games officials.
She recalled the experience as “really bad” and “awful”, saying she felt pressured to stay silent about the injustices she faced.
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From overlooked to unforgettable
Bonaly never won an Olympic medal, but her boldness made her a legend. The backflip remains banned, and to this day, no other skater has ever landed it in Olympic competition.
She knew the move would cost her points, but in the end, it earned her something greater—respect, admiration, and a permanent place in history.
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