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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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  • 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
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              • 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/

                                        1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • DarcyM Darcy

                                          @benroyce @CStamp

                                          Sometimes being yourself is simply more important than conforming!

                                          Linda Rose SmitL This user is from outside of this forum
                                          Linda Rose SmitL This user is from outside of this forum
                                          Linda Rose Smit
                                          wrote last edited by
                                          #42

                                          @Mor696 @benroyce @CStamp most times

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