At #Albertville1992, Surya Bonaly made history with a gravity-defying backflip on ice. 😲⛸️ #Olympics #MilanoCortina2026 #WinterOlympics #FigureSkating | Olympics

Surya Bonaly doing a backflip at the 1998 Olympics. Time code 3:29 for the flip. Listen to our newest episode to learn more. | Radiolab

In 1998, Surya Bonaly became the ONLY figure skater in Olympic history to land a backflip on one blade—a move banned since 1976. Already injured and out of medal contention, she had nothing to lose and everything to prove. This wasn’t rebellion for rebellion’s sake. For years, Bonaly dominated with athleticism that terrified judges. She could complete a quad (before women’s quads were “a thing”), jumped higher than most men, and brought gymnastics-level power to the ice. But judges consistently

Surya Bonaly, l’une des plus grandes patineuses françaises, a marqué l’histoire du patinage artistique en réalisant un backflip unique aux Jeux olympiques de Nagano en 1998, atterrissant sur une seule lame, une prouesse jamais vue auparavant. À l’époque, cette figure était interdite en compétition, et malgré l’ovation du public, elle fut sévèrement pénalisée par les juges, terminant loin du podium. Aujourd'hui de jeunes patineurs comme Ilia Malinin tente de reproduire son exploit aux JO de Milan

Surya Bonaly became the first and only figure skater to ever land a backflip on one blade in Olympic competition, a move that was banned and guaranteed to cost her points. She did it anyway, as a statement against a sport that had spent years overlooking her, underscoring her, and telling her she did not belong. | Our Culture

Landing a backflip on one blade 😱 Surya Bonaly performed this in Nagano 1998 and she remains the only athlete to perform this move in an Olympic Competition ✨ | TNT Sports

Surya Bonaly, World Championships 1996, Exhibition The Lion King Credit: YT QuadToe69 | Figure Skating Moments

Surya Bonaly, Olympic 1994, Exhibition Credit: YT Mintaka Alnilam | Figure Skating Moments