[ESPN] Former figure skating star Surya Bonaly, 52, reflected on the recent decision to allow the once-banned backflip in Olympic competition. The controversial move, which Bonaly famously performed in protest during her career, will now be permitted at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.
Bonaly, who alleged biased judging at the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics, deliberately risked point deductions to showcase her backflip before retiring from the sport.
In a recent interview with the Associated Press, Bonaly expressed her enthusiasm: “It was incredible to see a skater perform a backflip at the Olympics. The world seems to have evolved. Now, it appears that true talent can be recognized, regardless of background.”
Known for her exceptional athleticism as a Black skater, Bonaly executed quadruple jumps that challenged even male competitors and frequently incorporated the backflip into her routines. Despite her advanced technical skills, she often fell short of the top podium spot in major international competitions.
Bonaly never concealed her frustration with the results. She viewed the judging as racially biased and openly criticized the figure skating world, which she believed was dominated by white and Asian athletes, during media interviews.
At the 1994 World Championships, after finishing second to Japan’s Yuka Sato, Bonaly notably refused to step onto the podium for an extended period. Her career culminated at the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics, where she performed the backflip as an act of defiance in the women’s singles free skating event before retiring.
The backflip, banned in 1977 due to safety concerns, was removed from the list of prohibited moves in 2024 as part of the sport’s evolution. In the first Olympics since the ban was lifted, American skater Ilia Malinin, 22, showcased the backflip during the team event at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, reigniting interest in the move.
Reflecting on her career, Bonaly remarked, “I feel I competed in an era when audiences and judges weren’t as open-minded. I’m hopeful that figure skating will continue to progress and reach even greater heights in the future.”
Most Commented