Surya Bonaly - European's 1994 Copenhagen

[lapeache]

I love her robust athleticism and colorful costumes. She always reminded me of an exotic little bird taking flight.

[MrFieston]

espectacular i love surya

[Chutson353]

It has always appeared to me that she is an avant garde skater at heart and her style is something international judges simply haven't appreciated - BUT we, your fans, love to watch you skate Surya -

[psbfan01]

I'm glad Surya won this title. Vivaldi is my favorite of her long programs. The judges were right to reward her for her attempt at a second triple lutz.

[smartskater1]

That's the most gorgeous triple-triple I've seen Surya give ever!

[psbfan01]

@smartskater1 At the 95 Europeans in the long program, she had a phenomenal 3 Lutz-3 Toe combination too!

[sunlightguy75]

I was also for Oksana winning this... Surya's performance just focused on her jumps (which were always very good) but for me there is not much going on between the elements. She is skating to Vivaldi, I'd expect to see much more interpretation of this music than what she is presenting here. I would not have given here a 5.8 for performance.

[Angelann2u]

Yes, here skating was "different" but she was good, wonderful even. No wispy fluff, a REAL athlete. Beautiful too!

[BigA3372]

I', also for Surya. Baiul's performance at those championships was overrated, IMO. Check the fre skate f Maria Butyrskaia.. she hould have placed second in the free...

[iceroby72]

I don't agree... above the evident technical gap between Oksana and Sutya. The french was so much superior, Baiul had just a bunch of winking moves not a real artistry... not to mention the lack of speed, the telegraphed two-footed jumps and no combinations al all...

[PhillyGal4Ever]

Thank you for posting these vides of the 1994 European Skating Championships. I remember thinking at the time Oksana should have won-and I still do. Surya was a good acrobat-but a poor skater in between jumps. As one reporter wrote she looked as if she were skating on double runners. And after watching Usova & Zhulin's masterpiece to Vivaldi Surya's is abomination in comparison.

[faeryquene]

Agreed.