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  3. While the American male skater is getting attention for performing the 1st legal backflip landing on one skate, let's acknowledge the 1st person to have done this: a Black French girl, Surya Bonaly.

While the American male skater is getting attention for performing the 1st legal backflip landing on one skate, let's acknowledge the 1st person to have done this: a Black French girl, Surya Bonaly.

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blackhistory
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  • DragonFlameR DragonFlame

    @fistfulofdave @CStamp
    He's only 21, just relieved and happy my guess.

    CarolynC This user is from outside of this forum
    CarolynC This user is from outside of this forum
    Carolyn
    wrote last edited by
    #22

    @RHW @fistfulofdave Yeah, I would cut him some slack.

    1 Reply Last reply
    0
    • nicolaottomanoN nicolaottomano

      @CStamp
      OK (sorry for my ignorance), so the way of landing changes the kind of movement (kinda "backflip 1" and "backflip 2").
      So, now my new question: being two different movement, are both allowed now?

      CarolynC This user is from outside of this forum
      CarolynC This user is from outside of this forum
      Carolyn
      wrote last edited by
      #23

      @nicolaottomano If they allow a flip to land on one skate, it would seem the easier two-skate landing should also be allowed.

      1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • CarolynC Carolyn

        While the American male skater is getting attention for performing the 1st legal backflip landing on one skate, let's acknowledge the 1st person to have done this: a Black French girl, Surya Bonaly. She, however, lost points for doing it.

        "Regarding the criticism she received during her career, Bonaly said she was “born too early,” ...

        “I broke ice for other skaters,”...“Now everything is different. People welcome anyone as long as they are good & that is what life is about.”

        #BlackHistory

        SamhainS This user is from outside of this forum
        SamhainS This user is from outside of this forum
        Samhain
        wrote last edited by
        #24

        @CStamp I remember this! I wonder what she’s doing now?

        1 Reply Last reply
        0
        • CarolynC Carolyn

          While the American male skater is getting attention for performing the 1st legal backflip landing on one skate, let's acknowledge the 1st person to have done this: a Black French girl, Surya Bonaly. She, however, lost points for doing it.

          "Regarding the criticism she received during her career, Bonaly said she was “born too early,” ...

          “I broke ice for other skaters,”...“Now everything is different. People welcome anyone as long as they are good & that is what life is about.”

          #BlackHistory

          MariaM This user is from outside of this forum
          MariaM This user is from outside of this forum
          Maria
          wrote last edited by
          #25

          @CStamp The first thing I thought of when I saw him do it. No mention of Bonaly? But I'm old enough that I watched Bonaly do it live on TV (you are probably old enough too if James Van Der Beek is your generational icon).

          CarolynC 1 Reply Last reply
          0
          • MariaM Maria

            @CStamp The first thing I thought of when I saw him do it. No mention of Bonaly? But I'm old enough that I watched Bonaly do it live on TV (you are probably old enough too if James Van Der Beek is your generational icon).

            CarolynC This user is from outside of this forum
            CarolynC This user is from outside of this forum
            Carolyn
            wrote last edited by
            #26

            @MariaHill LOL, um, no to the generational icon.

            1 Reply Last reply
            0
            • CarolynC Carolyn

              While the American male skater is getting attention for performing the 1st legal backflip landing on one skate, let's acknowledge the 1st person to have done this: a Black French girl, Surya Bonaly. She, however, lost points for doing it.

              "Regarding the criticism she received during her career, Bonaly said she was “born too early,” ...

              “I broke ice for other skaters,”...“Now everything is different. People welcome anyone as long as they are good & that is what life is about.”

              #BlackHistory

              L This user is from outside of this forum
              L This user is from outside of this forum
              Louis Chartrand
              wrote last edited by
              #27

              @CStamp She's very humble; changes would probably have been slower to come were it not for her.

              1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • Colm DonoghueC Colm Donoghue

                @CStamp saw a doc about her on Netflix a few years ago

                To paraphrase Ginger Rogers
                Like Simone Biles except backwards and on skates

                Colm DonoghueC This user is from outside of this forum
                Colm DonoghueC This user is from outside of this forum
                Colm Donoghue
                wrote last edited by
                #28

                @CStamp forgot to say the show: Losers
                Surya is on ep3

                1 Reply Last reply
                0
                • CarolynC Carolyn

                  While the American male skater is getting attention for performing the 1st legal backflip landing on one skate, let's acknowledge the 1st person to have done this: a Black French girl, Surya Bonaly. She, however, lost points for doing it.

                  "Regarding the criticism she received during her career, Bonaly said she was “born too early,” ...

                  “I broke ice for other skaters,”...“Now everything is different. People welcome anyone as long as they are good & that is what life is about.”

                  #BlackHistory

                  Ben Royce 🇺🇦 🇸🇩B This user is from outside of this forum
                  Ben Royce 🇺🇦 🇸🇩B This user is from outside of this forum
                  Ben Royce 🇺🇦 🇸🇩
                  wrote last edited by
                  #29

                  @CStamp

                  #SuryaBonaly's story at the 1998 #Nagano #WinterOlympics is a marvel

                  She committed an error and was out of medal contention. So she went "fuck it, if the judges don't appreciate me for my athletic gifts, I am going to win on my own terms" and was the first Olympic woman to do a #backflip in #figureskating *on one blade*

                  And sure enough, we talk about that today more than anything else from then

                  "Fuck the haters, I'll win on my terms, I'm going to live my life"

                  Be like Surya

                  Gabriel PettierT Face ThumbC Yehuda TurtleIsland.socialY DarcyM 4 Replies Last reply
                  1
                  0
                  • CarolynC Carolyn

                    While the American male skater is getting attention for performing the 1st legal backflip landing on one skate, let's acknowledge the 1st person to have done this: a Black French girl, Surya Bonaly. She, however, lost points for doing it.

                    "Regarding the criticism she received during her career, Bonaly said she was “born too early,” ...

                    “I broke ice for other skaters,”...“Now everything is different. People welcome anyone as long as they are good & that is what life is about.”

                    #BlackHistory

                    Wokebloke for DemocracyD This user is from outside of this forum
                    Wokebloke for DemocracyD This user is from outside of this forum
                    Wokebloke for Democracy
                    wrote last edited by
                    #30

                    @CStamp
                    I remember her performance. It was amazing and the result was quite a shock .

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • Ben Royce 🇺🇦 🇸🇩B Ben Royce 🇺🇦 🇸🇩

                      @CStamp

                      #SuryaBonaly's story at the 1998 #Nagano #WinterOlympics is a marvel

                      She committed an error and was out of medal contention. So she went "fuck it, if the judges don't appreciate me for my athletic gifts, I am going to win on my own terms" and was the first Olympic woman to do a #backflip in #figureskating *on one blade*

                      And sure enough, we talk about that today more than anything else from then

                      "Fuck the haters, I'll win on my terms, I'm going to live my life"

                      Be like Surya

                      Gabriel PettierT This user is from outside of this forum
                      Gabriel PettierT This user is from outside of this forum
                      Gabriel Pettier
                      wrote last edited by
                      #31

                      @benroyce @CStamp I only knew part of the story, very interesting, and even more inspiring.

                      Ben Royce 🇺🇦 🇸🇩B CarolynC 2 Replies Last reply
                      0
                      • Gabriel PettierT Gabriel Pettier

                        @benroyce @CStamp I only knew part of the story, very interesting, and even more inspiring.

                        Ben Royce 🇺🇦 🇸🇩B This user is from outside of this forum
                        Ben Royce 🇺🇦 🇸🇩B This user is from outside of this forum
                        Ben Royce 🇺🇦 🇸🇩
                        wrote last edited by
                        #32

                        @tshirtman @CStamp

                        there's more to it

                        she had a lot of resentment towards the judges. she turned her back to the judges after finishing and bowed to the fans

                        she complained of ageism (like with gymnastics it's appalling). she got unusually low scores. "After 10 years, I am used to it"

                        she was injured and considered dropping out. after her error she spontaneously decided to launch into the backflip and land on one foot

                        she said she did it because it was "easier" (?!)

                        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surya_Bonaly#1997%E2%80%931998_season:_Third_Olympics

                        1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • Gabriel PettierT Gabriel Pettier

                          @benroyce @CStamp I only knew part of the story, very interesting, and even more inspiring.

                          CarolynC This user is from outside of this forum
                          CarolynC This user is from outside of this forum
                          Carolyn
                          wrote last edited by
                          #33

                          @tshirtman @benroyce Women aren’t supposed to be as athletic as men, she was a Black girl in a White sport, so she when she says she broke the ice for those who followed after, it is very true.

                          1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • Ben Royce 🇺🇦 🇸🇩B Ben Royce 🇺🇦 🇸🇩

                            @CStamp

                            #SuryaBonaly's story at the 1998 #Nagano #WinterOlympics is a marvel

                            She committed an error and was out of medal contention. So she went "fuck it, if the judges don't appreciate me for my athletic gifts, I am going to win on my own terms" and was the first Olympic woman to do a #backflip in #figureskating *on one blade*

                            And sure enough, we talk about that today more than anything else from then

                            "Fuck the haters, I'll win on my terms, I'm going to live my life"

                            Be like Surya

                            Face ThumbC This user is from outside of this forum
                            Face ThumbC This user is from outside of this forum
                            Face Thumb
                            wrote last edited by
                            #34

                            @benroyce @CStamp What a legend!

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • CarolynC Carolyn

                              While the American male skater is getting attention for performing the 1st legal backflip landing on one skate, let's acknowledge the 1st person to have done this: a Black French girl, Surya Bonaly. She, however, lost points for doing it.

                              "Regarding the criticism she received during her career, Bonaly said she was “born too early,” ...

                              “I broke ice for other skaters,”...“Now everything is different. People welcome anyone as long as they are good & that is what life is about.”

                              #BlackHistory

                              RolfR This user is from outside of this forum
                              RolfR This user is from outside of this forum
                              Rolf
                              wrote last edited by
                              #35

                              @CStamp
                              I thought the first one with a backflip was Toller Cranston from Canada, back in the 80's?

                              CarolynC 1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • RolfR Rolf

                                @CStamp
                                I thought the first one with a backflip was Toller Cranston from Canada, back in the 80's?

                                CarolynC This user is from outside of this forum
                                CarolynC This user is from outside of this forum
                                Carolyn
                                wrote last edited by
                                #36

                                @rolf_b_lh I can’t find that he did, though some of the professionals included them in their shows.

                                RolfR 1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • Ben Royce 🇺🇦 🇸🇩B Ben Royce 🇺🇦 🇸🇩

                                  @CStamp

                                  #SuryaBonaly's story at the 1998 #Nagano #WinterOlympics is a marvel

                                  She committed an error and was out of medal contention. So she went "fuck it, if the judges don't appreciate me for my athletic gifts, I am going to win on my own terms" and was the first Olympic woman to do a #backflip in #figureskating *on one blade*

                                  And sure enough, we talk about that today more than anything else from then

                                  "Fuck the haters, I'll win on my terms, I'm going to live my life"

                                  Be like Surya

                                  Yehuda TurtleIsland.socialY This user is from outside of this forum
                                  Yehuda TurtleIsland.socialY This user is from outside of this forum
                                  Yehuda TurtleIsland.social
                                  wrote last edited by
                                  #37

                                  @benroyce
                                  OMG tears of joy and admiration

                                  @CStamp

                                  Ben Royce 🇺🇦 🇸🇩B 1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • Ben Royce 🇺🇦 🇸🇩B Ben Royce 🇺🇦 🇸🇩

                                    @CStamp

                                    #SuryaBonaly's story at the 1998 #Nagano #WinterOlympics is a marvel

                                    She committed an error and was out of medal contention. So she went "fuck it, if the judges don't appreciate me for my athletic gifts, I am going to win on my own terms" and was the first Olympic woman to do a #backflip in #figureskating *on one blade*

                                    And sure enough, we talk about that today more than anything else from then

                                    "Fuck the haters, I'll win on my terms, I'm going to live my life"

                                    Be like Surya

                                    DarcyM This user is from outside of this forum
                                    DarcyM This user is from outside of this forum
                                    Darcy
                                    wrote last edited by
                                    #38

                                    @benroyce @CStamp

                                    Sometimes being yourself is simply more important than conforming!

                                    Linda Rose SmitL 1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • Yehuda TurtleIsland.socialY Yehuda TurtleIsland.social

                                      @benroyce
                                      OMG tears of joy and admiration

                                      @CStamp

                                      Ben Royce 🇺🇦 🇸🇩B This user is from outside of this forum
                                      Ben Royce 🇺🇦 🇸🇩B This user is from outside of this forum
                                      Ben Royce 🇺🇦 🇸🇩
                                      wrote last edited by
                                      #39

                                      @Yehuda @CStamp

                                      It's such a great lesson in life

                                      There are constraints placed on what success means

                                      But you can succeed on your own terms, your own way, by your own standards. And sometimes that can outshine what others have decided success means

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • CarolynC Carolyn

                                        @rolf_b_lh I can’t find that he did, though some of the professionals included them in their shows.

                                        RolfR This user is from outside of this forum
                                        RolfR This user is from outside of this forum
                                        Rolf
                                        wrote last edited by
                                        #40

                                        @CStamp will try to find later. Now I say good night 🙂

                                        RolfR 1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • CarolynC Carolyn

                                          @jmcrookston Yeah, she knew she was going to lose anyway so thought she would at least go out in style. 🙂

                                          JonathanJ This user is from outside of this forum
                                          JonathanJ This user is from outside of this forum
                                          Jonathan
                                          wrote last edited by
                                          #41

                                          @CStamp

                                          Bonaly was the only female athlete capable of the skill at that time, and later told reporters that she wanted to “show the judges – who don’t appreciate what I do – just what I can do.”

                                          https://www.forbes.com/sites/carolineprice/2026/02/09/the-complicated-and-controversial-history-of-figure-skatings-backflip/

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