This was the most entertaining performance at the Olympics that year. To hell with Lapinski's triple-triples and Michelle Kwan's grace. Surya laid down the law and took no prisoners here! lol
It might have been illeagle for her to do the back flip but... She is the only skater male or female to have done it on Olympic ice... She knew she didn't have a chance at of a medal and so she preformed the back flip. She also finished with her back to the judges, that was a silent "F" YOU to them for all the years she'd been black listed... I hope where ever she is now that she's happy and healthy..
If her mother had let her have a REAL skating coach, she would have gotten the basic skating skills that she never had. What she did for most of her career, was gymnastics on ice. Not because she couldn't do better, but because she wasn't allowed to learn.
She still is one of my favorites athletes to watch though, and always will be :) Hope you're living a happy life now, Surya!
I ALWAYS loved figure skating. As a black girl, she makes me feel like I really can do it. Thankyou, Surya Bonaly for opening the doors for other African American girls :)
@bbukfan I know she's french. But yet in still, I feel like in some way she helped impact even colored girls here in the states somehow. This is VERY motivational to watch.
I'm glad to hear that you are not racist. But when you said "too bad" (she's French) I thought you were making an anti-France statement. By the way, I remember watching those Olympics and being incredulous that Surya had come second to the "home" girl. It was outrageous.
In 1998 I wasn't an ice figure skating follower yet and I learnt about Surya only some years ago. I think she was awesome in this performance, doing her stunning backflip!
I saw her for the first time live in a skating show in Rome 4 months ago. She still does the backflip, she was amazing!!
@SkateNater So true. Her basic skating skills were very poor indeed. Not just that, but she often included cheated, under-rotated jumps in her programmes. For example, those attempts at quad toe loops were nowhere rotated - why ruin her programmes by trying stuff she couldn't do? To be fair, her skating skills and artistry did improve towards the end of her amateur career but she was not in the same league as Oksana, Yuka or Lu Chen. Earlier in her career she was unbearable to watch.
you know its funny..i loved her back in the day like more than words can say..i was truly ANGRY whenever she got her scores but to watch her now from a more grown up perspective..i see the error in her skating...she's still amazing tho.
@SkateNater ITA. I've seen Surya in exhibition and she's a joy to watch, especially with her backflips. But her skating basics were always near non-existent. And I agree with another poster who said in a different thread that this Vivaldi number was an insult to the great Usova and Zhulin's epic Vivaldi skate. Jmo.
" welll thats an in your face move" love it - i remember wathing this and asking my mam if she'd teach me how to put it on ice - 12 years later i still dont dare !
@mmmmmvodka it has never been a sanctioned jump for skaters at that level of competition - like a lutz, axel, loop, toe loop, or salcow. You will see several of them men attempt them in professional shows and tours, but it is not something you do in Olympic or World competition. Surya was a wonderful athlete during her time, but her edging and artistry left a lot to be desired.
At the time I thought that she should have been first because I thought a back flip was 1,000 times more difficult than a jump!!!
Now that I am EDUCATED...I'm happy that she went out like this...mainly because I think it made her happy. Plus she wasn't going to move up in the standings.
Surya Bonaly was amazing. Coupled with the swell in the music, that ending after the backflip was just divine; really showcased her strength. She was such a wonderful athlete, too — I'm willing to bet that most people can't do a backflip, much less land it on one foot... and in ice skates? Yeah, that's a whole 'nother ball game right there.
Watching her as a little kid was what made me think figure skating was actually interesting. :)
I'm the same, Gnorralicious. ^_^ She still inspires me to skate. :3
And people think those that just competed in the Olympics were special this year - if they saw the power and expression that Surya literally consumes the audience with, the current ladies fig. skaters would be put to shame.
Wish there were more skaters like her, like the commentor said: "she's doing it for the crowd!". When you think about it thats what matters the most, who cares what a handfull of judges think...and what an amazing move! I always think of this as the most amazing thing I've seen in figure skating ever.
You read my mine. I was thinking the same thing. She's one of the original excellent black athletes. It brought back memories form when I watched her years ago and just now I said she reminds me that she could be related to the Williams sisters but she was before them. They followed her. Surya Bonaly the best!
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I never thought Surya Banaly was very good skater. Artistically she wasn't very good at all. She was too technical in my opinion. All she did was jump and spin and I agree with the commentator that she did break the flow of the choreography when she would do a difficult jump. She wasn't a graceful skater. And to the person that posted about her taking off her medal to protest, that was another thing about her, she was a sore looser.
Does anyone have a clip where Bonaly skates with Russian male skater? Unfortunately I have forgotten his name but he was on European championships where they did the show number in the final gala.
Surya is so amazing!!! Definately one of my favorite skaters. I love how she does that illegal backflip and ends back to the jugdes. It's so interesting and exciting to watch her skate.
where is she now ??? is she still skating ??? I used to watch her so many times and get cheated out of competition . i hope she will never be forgotten .
I so love this woman! During the '90s she was really the only female skater that interested me any. Skill level was off the charts and you never knew what she had in store for the audience when she performed. All she really needed was that one routine where everything came together for her since she was mainly an "all or nothing" type skater, but still she was so fun and exciting to watch...
This woman is a legend. More power, more skill than any of these judges will ever acknowledge. Blackflip in the layout position landed on ONE skate? AMEN, girl.
Finishing with her back to the Judges? Perfection.
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She alwyas looked so painfully awkward compared to all the other girls on the ice. She seemed not to care a fig for artistry and to want to do it on her terms alone, but that's not the way the sport works. Why bother competing if one is only going to do it half-assed? The continual thumbing her nose at the status quo, but not skating all that well either, was annoyingly bratty.
she skated like a monkey, horrible posture, and she basically made fun of it, the back flip was basically like saying "take that judges, i dont care what you think" she was a jerk!
that wasn't why she did the backjump...she knew she wasn't in contention and over her career was constantly robbed of better standings. i don't blame her...i would have snubbed them too. she made it about the fans since she knew there was no point anymore in impressing the judges.
You obviously don't know fuckall aobut the sport, you don't accomplish all she has and be in demand as she is and "skate like a monkey". Which that statement alone let everyone know what a total fucktard you are. And the back flip is a skill that she incorporated into her routine from being a very accomplished gymnast as well, and a skill many other skater just don't possess. You bigoted fucktard.
She was ahtletic but never a very good figure skater. Early in her career she used to chug around the ice like a locomotive, arms pumping up and down like pistons. Later she acquired more grace, but never enough. She was never going to be a serious threat for World or Olympic gold.
she knew that coudn't win after the initial fall...and decided to go out with style and talent...bad votes from the judges but standing ovation of the public:-)
I remember this performance. Like others, I also felt that she knew she had no chance for a medal, so that's why she decided to do a backflip near the end. A statement. It was a statement to the judges and skating world of her frustrations for years, but remember she had also been judged unfairly in the SP. She wanted to end her amateur career by showing them something her way and it was perfect with the timing and music -and at the Olympics! Notice her artistry and edges improved.
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
She's always so wobbly on her landing edge...as if she were skating just beyond her capabilities. Even when she skates fairly clean it's very unsatisfying to watch. She never did seem secure in any of her technique.
And don't ask me "then why're you watching?", as this is the only performance of hers I'm interested in seeing....I just wanted to see if my negative impressions of her skating still carry to this day...they do.
I love the fact she disagreed with the judges during the World Championships. There are too many good sports who dont do anything when they know they should have won so good going to her. I love what she does here, I imagine its what I would do in the same situaution. Excellent!
HA HA, she was like f*** it...i'm gonna do what I want...I won't win anyways, and an added f*** you to the judges when she turned her back on them. That was hardcore. I always loved her for being true to herself. And you guys are right, she didn't have to win anything to be a freaking star. She was a sho' nuff skater.
I honestly remember watching that program. They didn't want a black girl winning a traditionally European and Asian game. They did that to her to discourage blacks from getting far in figure skating.
so true, discrimination started to calm down a little on black ppl wen the new millinium started n unno wat tat mean, all the 90's babies dunt do discrination against colour, but now our generation is more like u fat girl or u skinny girl, i dunt like ur hair etc. plus ppl i dont judge ppl by colour, ppl r shades either light or dark, i dunt consider as colour
No-they did that because she was a jumper but could not skate on edges between those jumps to save her life. She looked like she was 'skating' on double runners. She was never properly taught to use edges. But she was good at acrobatics which is not allowed in skating.
I freaking love how she ends the program with her back to the judges. Most skaters are practically in their laps and ALWAYS face them. It is just understood. She's always been a good one for making statements(i.e. 1994 Worlds podium incident).
I liked it when she literally flipped off the judges with that backflip. Isn't the reason they're illegal is because most skaters landed them on two feet, and all jumps are supposed to be landed on one foot? Surya sure nailed hers on one foot!
the judges were so uptight morons to not give her extra points for being able to backflip. Can anyone else in the competition backflip on ice? Ich don't think so!
Protests like that are not uncommon, a famed Olympic wrestler did the same after being robbed of his gold medal by embarrassingly inconsistent judges. I saw the clip in the she didn't throw it away and it's didn't look like she stomped either.
wow!! lok at tat back flip totally breath taking!! but y is it illegal in competitions?does anyone noe y?if so plzz tell me!!(:P.S.i admire her lots!!
Ohhh you are so nice!! But we have also many bad sides like all the countries!! lol! But for this, it's true, when we are not agree, we are not agree!!!!
Yeah 93 she should've won but Oksana did with a very simple program with no combinations, and 94 it was close but Yuka I guess squeaked through. 95 though I think Bonaly knew that Lu Chen deserved it. Still...I think the only time she was really cheated of gold was 93.
The thing with Bonaly was that she knew that there was no way she was going to even get close to placing for a medal. The back-flip was, as the commentators said, just to show that she could, because there wasn't anything else she could do and she wnated to wanted to have a bit of fun. She knew she'd be docked points for it, but it was all about the fun when she did it.
This was the most entertaining performance at the Olympics that year. To hell with Lapinski's triple-triples and Michelle Kwan's grace. Surya laid down the law and took no prisoners here! lol
aidenangola 3 weeks ago
It might have been illeagle for her to do the back flip but... She is the only skater male or female to have done it on Olympic ice... She knew she didn't have a chance at of a medal and so she preformed the back flip. She also finished with her back to the judges, that was a silent "F" YOU to them for all the years she'd been black listed... I hope where ever she is now that she's happy and healthy..
carpentersfan2010 1 month ago
she is my favourite skater:)...she is amazing
Channelofdeeasunset 1 month ago
is it just me or does the begining of the music sound like insidious?
jakeymc3 2 months ago
@ithinkformyseIf negative people who hide behind computers never cease to amaze me...
Rdcoaxum 3 months ago
If her mother had let her have a REAL skating coach, she would have gotten the basic skating skills that she never had. What she did for most of her career, was gymnastics on ice. Not because she couldn't do better, but because she wasn't allowed to learn.
She still is one of my favorites athletes to watch though, and always will be :) Hope you're living a happy life now, Surya!
missmaybesomeday 3 months ago
UGH...
oofahman 3 months ago
Im white and I think black people are the BEST!! (:
MsPelicanus 4 months ago
I was like 10 when I saw this performance and I have not forgotten it. And I'm not even a figure skating fan.
velocity246 4 months ago
amazing!!first 2A
mochi1983 5 months ago
I ALWAYS loved figure skating. As a black girl, she makes me feel like I really can do it. Thankyou, Surya Bonaly for opening the doors for other African American girls :)
musicproducer16 5 months ago
@musicproducer16 Too bad she's French.
bbukfan 5 months ago
@bbukfan I know she's french. But yet in still, I feel like in some way she helped impact even colored girls here in the states somehow. This is VERY motivational to watch.
musicproducer16 5 months ago
@bbukfan
What does that mean? Sounds like you are a racist pig.
peetieyou 4 months ago
@peetieyou I'm not racist, just saying that she's not African-American since she's French, that's all.
bbukfan 4 months ago
@bbukfan
I'm glad to hear that you are not racist. But when you said "too bad" (she's French) I thought you were making an anti-France statement. By the way, I remember watching those Olympics and being incredulous that Surya had come second to the "home" girl. It was outrageous.
peetieyou 4 months ago
@bbukfan I heard she moved to the US and became an American citizen in 2004.
tbarry2011 3 months ago
@bbukfan she was adopted.
spotlightgirl1515 1 month ago
Press 6 multiple times ;)
yog28 6 months ago
This never gets old!!! She made history with that illegal back flip and she did this here just for her fans!!!
gyqz 7 months ago
You guys needa stop hating juss cuz shes black you will always find imperfections! >:[
sisijack 7 months ago
My reaction to the backflip= OAO
Angeliclily 7 months ago
she was an amazing jumper, but her travelling and artistic moves were what brought her down
facetweets 8 months ago
In 1998 I wasn't an ice figure skating follower yet and I learnt about Surya only some years ago. I think she was awesome in this performance, doing her stunning backflip!
I saw her for the first time live in a skating show in Rome 4 months ago. She still does the backflip, she was amazing!!
Sydney83 8 months ago
@SkateNater So true. Her basic skating skills were very poor indeed. Not just that, but she often included cheated, under-rotated jumps in her programmes. For example, those attempts at quad toe loops were nowhere rotated - why ruin her programmes by trying stuff she couldn't do? To be fair, her skating skills and artistry did improve towards the end of her amateur career but she was not in the same league as Oksana, Yuka or Lu Chen. Earlier in her career she was unbearable to watch.
npe1 9 months ago
you know its funny..i loved her back in the day like more than words can say..i was truly ANGRY whenever she got her scores but to watch her now from a more grown up perspective..i see the error in her skating...she's still amazing tho.
dsl3x 9 months ago
Idc, if I could do a backflip on ice I'd give the judges a big FU as well..
imon2u 10 months ago 3
Holyyyyy Crrrrrud. Wow.
That backflip was amazing!
wowowowowowwww
AviyaFowler 1 year ago
@SkateNater ITA. I've seen Surya in exhibition and she's a joy to watch, especially with her backflips. But her skating basics were always near non-existent. And I agree with another poster who said in a different thread that this Vivaldi number was an insult to the great Usova and Zhulin's epic Vivaldi skate. Jmo.
faeryquene 1 year ago
I remember when I first saw this, I thought she would have gotten disqualified for doing the backflip.
dsewing02 1 year ago
Haha I remember watching this when I was ten, I thought it was so awesome and I asked my mom to let me be an ice skater.
Steph1316 1 year ago
" welll thats an in your face move" love it - i remember wathing this and asking my mam if she'd teach me how to put it on ice - 12 years later i still dont dare !
123Vanity321 1 year ago
what is this song called?
It's always played in LP
yalda96 1 year ago
I remember watching Surya Bonaly in the 90s ... she had such power, looked as if she was going to take off and start flying naked around the arena.
adamcrookedsmile 1 year ago
Are you not suppose to do a backflip on ice? Is that illegal or something? Just wondering.
mmmmmvodka 1 year ago
@mmmmmvodka it has never been a sanctioned jump for skaters at that level of competition - like a lutz, axel, loop, toe loop, or salcow. You will see several of them men attempt them in professional shows and tours, but it is not something you do in Olympic or World competition. Surya was a wonderful athlete during her time, but her edging and artistry left a lot to be desired.
AngelofMine090 1 year ago
you can actually hear the reaction of the crow to the sublime backflip! says it all! she is truly amazing!
iluciaaa 1 year ago 4
She can do amazing stuff, but, unfortunally, i think she isn't gracefull enough, she always looks so strong, so powerful. But man, she's still great.
Did she win?
coccinelsucrer 1 year ago 2
OHHHHHHHHHHH ma panthére noir jtmmmmm té la meilleur..........
memepasvraii 1 year ago
Rebel with a cause, perhaps. And she finished with her back to the judges. You just gotta love her.
tairanotomomori 1 year ago 3
2:20 thats a move you dont see today...
FigureSk8rxx 1 year ago
At the time I thought that she should have been first because I thought a back flip was 1,000 times more difficult than a jump!!!
Now that I am EDUCATED...I'm happy that she went out like this...mainly because I think it made her happy. Plus she wasn't going to move up in the standings.
MTVMANN 2 years ago
oh my gosh. that's one amazing flip!
vanitysim 2 years ago
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Anabolics on ice. Wow.
Kuspetaren 2 years ago
Surya Bonaly was amazing. Coupled with the swell in the music, that ending after the backflip was just divine; really showcased her strength. She was such a wonderful athlete, too — I'm willing to bet that most people can't do a backflip, much less land it on one foot... and in ice skates? Yeah, that's a whole 'nother ball game right there.
Watching her as a little kid was what made me think figure skating was actually interesting. :)
gnorralicious 2 years ago 3
I'm the same, Gnorralicious. ^_^ She still inspires me to skate. :3
And people think those that just competed in the Olympics were special this year - if they saw the power and expression that Surya literally consumes the audience with, the current ladies fig. skaters would be put to shame.
SanctusSententia 2 years ago
haha take that ya old geezer judges. She just back flipped in your faces oh snap now what.
Apex144 2 years ago 7
its funny, because scott hamilton is one of those announcers, and he can do a backflip on ice.
KellyLove09 2 years ago 3
12 years later and those commentators still wont shut the fuck up!
jpalmettoguy 2 years ago 19
LOL how right you are, jpalmetto guy xD
SanctusSententia 2 years ago
She's the rael perl! I still adore her. )))
Lac7roix 2 years ago
～～～～～～！！！！！
OOO000lll 2 years ago
;_; she's so cool
MeirinKanzaki 2 years ago
3:30
TheMimiz92 2 years ago
As a kid I didn't care about her artistic impression, I just wanted to see that back flip!
mkinn1 2 years ago 4
c est la patineuse qui m a fait le plus vibrer merci surya
phenix2707 2 years ago 3
3:30 Surya rules!
malvavisco10 2 years ago 2
I remember being a kid and seeing that backflip and being in total awe!
velocity246 2 years ago
I cant watch her without a huge grin on my face every time. Watching her as a kid was a HUGE deal to me. Shes such a badass. Josephine Baker LIVES.
McAnarchy88 2 years ago 7
Wish there were more skaters like her, like the commentor said: "she's doing it for the crowd!". When you think about it thats what matters the most, who cares what a handfull of judges think...and what an amazing move! I always think of this as the most amazing thing I've seen in figure skating ever.
jayjay3830 2 years ago 17
@jayjay3830 True Surya is the TRUTH!
ogkeedah 3 weeks ago
i remember this!! and i love her!!! she is amazing!!
ayumex 2 years ago 2
You read my mine. I was thinking the same thing. She's one of the original excellent black athletes. It brought back memories form when I watched her years ago and just now I said she reminds me that she could be related to the Williams sisters but she was before them. They followed her. Surya Bonaly the best!
Sheryl6 2 years ago
I remember her in the 90's. She was only person that made skating worth watching.
hardtechnoboy 2 years ago 2
merci surya quel plaisir de te revoir
phenix2707 2 years ago
i've always support and love her way of skating. That's right that she was very athletic, but you can't say that she was not a good iceskater!
At the moment, she's on a real tv show takind place in south africa, but realised for France. What a pity!
Noa2kajou 2 years ago
Sorry for my english...
I remember this moment lol !
Two seconds before the " backflip"
I was thinking No Surya, dont do that, dont do that lol
I was very proud to be French at this moment.
The backflip was a Fuck to the antiquated rules of ice-skating at that time. For exemple
Judge French 6.0 for French
Judge American 6.0 for American
Very objective.
She was or is still the only woman has to be able to make a backflip.
mkstone10 2 years ago 4
@mkstone10 rory flack bernhardt (sp?) was also able to
thecwexperience 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
I never thought Surya Banaly was very good skater. Artistically she wasn't very good at all. She was too technical in my opinion. All she did was jump and spin and I agree with the commentator that she did break the flow of the choreography when she would do a difficult jump. She wasn't a graceful skater. And to the person that posted about her taking off her medal to protest, that was another thing about her, she was a sore looser.
marellamofo 2 years ago
Does anyone have a clip where Bonaly skates with Russian male skater? Unfortunately I have forgotten his name but he was on European championships where they did the show number in the final gala.
konked 2 years ago 2
Heard about her backflips on Will and Grace about 5 minutes ago. Had to check it out. She's amazing!!!
Akuchan7 2 years ago 8
Wow! I always thought Miki Ando was actually the first person to land a quad, but actually, it's this woman who actually landed it first.
kev7978 2 years ago 6
It's Vivaldi's four seasons
lakeofgod 2 years ago 2
What song is she performing to? I like it.
smartbomb33 2 years ago
Surya is so amazing!!! Definately one of my favorite skaters. I love how she does that illegal backflip and ends back to the jugdes. It's so interesting and exciting to watch her skate.
I think she's kinda underated though :/
AkaneMerodi 2 years ago 5
In my book she was the BEST and most exciting! I loved hen she took off the silver metal in protest!
suicidalterror 2 years ago 9
where is she now ??? is she still skating ??? I used to watch her so many times and get cheated out of competition . i hope she will never be forgotten .
tubagee 2 years ago 5
She's retired now, but she'll never be forgotten. She was too awesome to forget.
Luubelaar 2 years ago 7
When skating of bonary started, our family always gathered in front of TV.
She was fashionable and her style was also preeminent！
0000000022 2 years ago 2
I loved her so much in 90s, it feels so good to see her again by youtube, I love youtube
haebiii 2 years ago 7
Back flip + Back to judges ending = Amazing. How can there not be a part of everyone who absolutely loves her? Is she still doing any shows?
chrisbordeaux 2 years ago 5
@chrisbordeaux is it compulsory to end your routine in front of the judges actually?
kev7978 2 years ago
I so love this woman! During the '90s she was really the only female skater that interested me any. Skill level was off the charts and you never knew what she had in store for the audience when she performed. All she really needed was that one routine where everything came together for her since she was mainly an "all or nothing" type skater, but still she was so fun and exciting to watch...
;-)
PeekaPeep 2 years ago 2
I thought that was great but she traveled a little to much on the last combination spin.
citrix26 2 years ago
This woman is a legend. More power, more skill than any of these judges will ever acknowledge. Blackflip in the layout position landed on ONE skate? AMEN, girl.
Finishing with her back to the Judges? Perfection.
J'adore Surya.
MOKandRIFF 2 years ago 57
i completely agree. the sport needed her kind of defiance! it was brilliant.
jdolio82 2 years ago 4
what music piece is that at the end of her routine ? does anyone know ?
HawkeyeXXV 2 years ago
Comment removed
airliberte 2 years ago
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vivaldi's fourth seasons
airliberte 2 years ago
That's from Vivaldi, The Four Seasons
whurdsderodan 2 years ago 2
@HawkeyeXXV Vivaldi - WInter
velocity246 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
She alwyas looked so painfully awkward compared to all the other girls on the ice. She seemed not to care a fig for artistry and to want to do it on her terms alone, but that's not the way the sport works. Why bother competing if one is only going to do it half-assed? The continual thumbing her nose at the status quo, but not skating all that well either, was annoyingly bratty.
Trillidotia 2 years ago
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she skated like a monkey, horrible posture, and she basically made fun of it, the back flip was basically like saying "take that judges, i dont care what you think" she was a jerk!
ELITE426 2 years ago
that wasn't why she did the backjump...she knew she wasn't in contention and over her career was constantly robbed of better standings. i don't blame her...i would have snubbed them too. she made it about the fans since she knew there was no point anymore in impressing the judges.
viciouscanadianvixen 2 years ago 6
Right she made it for the oudience... Japaneese people had a soft spot for her since the 1994 NHK trophy.
She also finished her program giving her back to the juding panel.
iceroby72 2 years ago
You obviously don't know fuckall aobut the sport, you don't accomplish all she has and be in demand as she is and "skate like a monkey". Which that statement alone let everyone know what a total fucktard you are. And the back flip is a skill that she incorporated into her routine from being a very accomplished gymnast as well, and a skill many other skater just don't possess. You bigoted fucktard.
bigtexansfan 2 years ago 3
Whatever you think she is, you moron, you can't hold a candle !
sundiatah 2 years ago 2
breaking rules lmao; creativity has no rules she should have won!
izsy79 2 years ago 9
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I remember her she's amazing in this vid
ttori1998 2 years ago
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ttori1998 2 years ago
I love Surya Bonaly.
I'm using her as a portion of my french athlete project, her career is astonishing.
briannamercer 3 years ago 4
She was always such an excting skater to watch. A little unpredictable but was and still is one of my favourites.
nicaisleain 3 years ago 2
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She was ahtletic but never a very good figure skater. Early in her career she used to chug around the ice like a locomotive, arms pumping up and down like pistons. Later she acquired more grace, but never enough. She was never going to be a serious threat for World or Olympic gold.
bus114 3 years ago
u dont like black people huh, i bet ur black urself lol. safe hater.
jogu78 3 years ago
she knew that coudn't win after the initial fall...and decided to go out with style and talent...bad votes from the judges but standing ovation of the public:-)
VENTOdellEST 3 years ago 7
I remember this performance. Like others, I also felt that she knew she had no chance for a medal, so that's why she decided to do a backflip near the end. A statement. It was a statement to the judges and skating world of her frustrations for years, but remember she had also been judged unfairly in the SP. She wanted to end her amateur career by showing them something her way and it was perfect with the timing and music -and at the Olympics! Notice her artistry and edges improved.
lookscudkill 3 years ago 5
It was also nice to see that she just made it to skate in the final flight as well!
lookscudkill 3 years ago 4
That being said her backflip is the best in the world.
gandy74 3 years ago 20
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She's always so wobbly on her landing edge...as if she were skating just beyond her capabilities. Even when she skates fairly clean it's very unsatisfying to watch. She never did seem secure in any of her technique.
And don't ask me "then why're you watching?", as this is the only performance of hers I'm interested in seeing....I just wanted to see if my negative impressions of her skating still carry to this day...they do.
gandy74 3 years ago
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nahhh u just hate black people hahah
jogu78 3 years ago
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Really she shouldn't had done that knowing that that IMHO, was like a sore loser. Blame her adopted mom for her upbrining for what I heard.
JPPT1974 3 years ago
is that scott hamilton? hes such a hater....that back flip was a kiss my ass. luved it.
2PHILADELPHIA215 3 years ago 12
I love the fact she disagreed with the judges during the World Championships. There are too many good sports who dont do anything when they know they should have won so good going to her. I love what she does here, I imagine its what I would do in the same situaution. Excellent!
Simba85 3 years ago 8
HA HA, she was like f*** it...i'm gonna do what I want...I won't win anyways, and an added f*** you to the judges when she turned her back on them. That was hardcore. I always loved her for being true to herself. And you guys are right, she didn't have to win anything to be a freaking star. She was a sho' nuff skater.
aquarianbabe 3 years ago 34
GO GIRL.
miamivicepastels83 3 years ago 11
Maybe she was hurt after the fall. Surya is an over achiever and tends to be very hard on herself.
DonnieBrownIII 3 years ago
I honestly remember watching that program. They didn't want a black girl winning a traditionally European and Asian game. They did that to her to discourage blacks from getting far in figure skating.
maipai101 3 years ago
so true, discrimination started to calm down a little on black ppl wen the new millinium started n unno wat tat mean, all the 90's babies dunt do discrination against colour, but now our generation is more like u fat girl or u skinny girl, i dunt like ur hair etc. plus ppl i dont judge ppl by colour, ppl r shades either light or dark, i dunt consider as colour
lilbitch90 3 years ago 2
No-they did that because she was a jumper but could not skate on edges between those jumps to save her life. She looked like she was 'skating' on double runners. She was never properly taught to use edges. But she was good at acrobatics which is not allowed in skating.
PhillyGal4Ever 2 years ago
Surya has her faults but I have seen worse.
maipai101 2 years ago
I thought Surya stopped skating after 94? She was the bomb diggity!!!! I believe she was the only skater that could back flip and land on one foot.
I stopped watching figure skating after how they treated her!
Sahbisun 2 years ago 6
I freaking love how she ends the program with her back to the judges. Most skaters are practically in their laps and ALWAYS face them. It is just understood. She's always been a good one for making statements(i.e. 1994 Worlds podium incident).
invaderNoah12 4 years ago 4
she had balls!! Love her
kaynix35 4 years ago 4
I liked it when she literally flipped off the judges with that backflip. Isn't the reason they're illegal is because most skaters landed them on two feet, and all jumps are supposed to be landed on one foot? Surya sure nailed hers on one foot!
pellebravesskylar 4 years ago 6
the judges were so uptight morons to not give her extra points for being able to backflip. Can anyone else in the competition backflip on ice? Ich don't think so!
weloveannanetrebko 4 years ago
there are 2 or 3 others i think, but not as daring as surya, u know how french are
zzzxtreme 4 years ago
They could not give her extra points because such flips are illegal in skating.
PhillyGal4Ever 2 years ago 3
i love the music to this program.
janimation 4 years ago
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futureNavalofficer 4 years ago
Protests like that are not uncommon, a famed Olympic wrestler did the same after being robbed of his gold medal by embarrassingly inconsistent judges. I saw the clip in the she didn't throw it away and it's didn't look like she stomped either.
Giagantus 2 years ago
OMG lol
itoroi 4 years ago
wow!! lok at tat back flip totally breath taking!! but y is it illegal in competitions?does anyone noe y?if so plzz tell me!!(:P.S.i admire her lots!!
nic95starz 4 years ago
I love this woman!
SHE WAS THE BEST A TECHNICALITY AND VERSATALITY!
SURYA BOANLY, IRINA SLUTSKYA, SASHA COHEN!
all time favorites!
deziremenow143 4 years ago 4
thank god they change the old system of the judges! they use to focus in everything less the tecnique
stleon06 4 years ago 3
woah that backflip is amazing.
EmoSkate4Eva 4 years ago 4
I always loved watching Surya skate, and it was so disappointing to see how many times the judges would completely rob her.
She may lack the grace of Michelle Kwan, but Surya brought the technical element of women's skating to a whole new level.
Even the men can't complete a backflip with a one foot landing. Go Surya!
rheinnon 4 years ago 4
I loved this, amazing backflip, never seen anything like before and it´s gets better at the end, saluting the crowd instead of the judgdes. Nice!!
mellowboy23 4 years ago 2
Rebel, Rebel! Love it!
Alaric20 4 years ago 2
Ohhh you are so nice!! But we have also many bad sides like all the countries!! lol! But for this, it's true, when we are not agree, we are not agree!!!!
fatalbeauty 4 years ago 2
Ohhh this one of the only protest action in this shy world of skating!!!! Well done! Vive la France, et la Revolution française!!! lol!
fatalbeauty 4 years ago 3
How! i didn't know that you love us so much! Thank you!! :) On vous aime aussi <3 (we like you too), but not Bush :P. "french kiss for you :P"
j0han64 4 years ago
I remember seeing this on TV when it happened, and it still makes me laugh!
gutsfinky 4 years ago
I love her so much!! that guts to do the iligal backflip!!! just AMAZING!!
8uychi 4 years ago 3
the illegal backflip plus ending with her back to the judges...i love her!
squirrelmilk 4 years ago 4
You go girl, I loved it when she did that magnificent back flip which is a huge no-no, but I love a rebel at heart.
rickram1961 4 years ago 3
I know the backflip was not allowed but it was fab!
chongy2k 4 years ago 4
I am sorry to say that the music is very terrible.
wangquanquan 4 years ago
it would be a lot better if scott hamilton would shut the fuck up. jeez. someone please tell these guys to save it for the end.
jpalmettoguy 4 years ago
Did she use the same program for her whole career? In 93 she used Four Seasons, and 5 years later its the same one!
mariahfan444 4 years ago
Surya is the BEST skater EVER!!! I love her smile, her body and her style that she brought to skating.
swinde 4 years ago
This is the hottest chick on skates, no doubt!!
swinde 4 years ago
yea she was their was 2 times she Clearly won the gold but the judges awarded it to yuka sato and someone else
tennisplaya302 4 years ago
Yeah 93 she should've won but Oksana did with a very simple program with no combinations, and 94 it was close but Yuka I guess squeaked through. 95 though I think Bonaly knew that Lu Chen deserved it. Still...I think the only time she was really cheated of gold was 93.
mariahfan444 4 years ago
did she slightly stumble while stroking at 2:02?
hydrocarbure1 4 years ago
The thing with Bonaly was that she knew that there was no way she was going to even get close to placing for a medal. The back-flip was, as the commentators said, just to show that she could, because there wasn't anything else she could do and she wnated to wanted to have a bit of fun. She knew she'd be docked points for it, but it was all about the fun when she did it.
Phaug5 5 years ago
wow!:o
poormanZ 5 years ago
I never understood why they dock the skater for something so difficult as a backflip. If they can do it let them.
ser132 5 years ago 5
Her speed is amazing lol
enastaciah 5 years ago
I love that video. Surya is awesome and the message she gives to the judges is really strong!
gui2711 5 years ago