Surya Bonaly

[Mohacz]

Surya Varuna Bonaly (born 15 December 1973 in Nice, France) is a French former figure skater and coach. She is a three-time World silver medalist (1993–1995), a five-time European champion (1991–1995), the 1991 World Junior Champion, and a nine-time French national champion (1989–1997).

Bonaly became the first Olympic figure skater to successfully perform a backflip landing on one blade, executing the move at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan, before retiring from eligible competition shortly thereafter. Following her amateur career, she enjoyed a lengthy and successful tenure as a professional skater, touring internationally in ice shows and winning multiple professional titles. She later transitioned into coaching, working in Las Vegas, Colorado, Minnesota, and Switzerland.

• Olympics.com
• Wikipedia
• X
• Instagram

Programs and Videos

Programs and Videos
1997/1998
SP: "Caravan"
LP: "The Four Seasons" by A. Vivaldi

XVII Winter Olympic Games Nagano 1998

SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbhKlV_29ww / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFrzG9p_Xs0​

FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVnRAWkyP5M​

1998 European Championships

SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CMF0AOY1iA​

FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mOrZvMICqM / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p50xYsIe9aY​

1998 French Nationals

FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nq-4Yha8ss​

1997 GP Skate Canada

SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLCLe8IcPno​

FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlZBQx3lO9U / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWrr80qZQd4​

1996/1997
SP:
LP:

1997 European Championships

SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1uWGdI6Ba0​

FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgfqgzQnEWc​

1997 French Nationals

FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWmzhGAOjKg​

1996 Centennial on Ice

SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gE9yqu3B1bo​

FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxCTJ04mQEA​

1995/1996
SP: "The Locket Hunt" by Patrick Doyle / "Little Princess"
LP1: music from Cirque du Soleil
LP2: "Die Irrfahrt um's Glück" / "Swan Lake" / "Paquita"
Ex: "Circle of Life" from "Lion King of the Jungle" / "The Wall" - "Check Point" - "Un Parfum de fin du Monde" - "Love for Ever" by Osvaldo Camahue, Czech Jazz & Symphonic Orchestra

1996 World Championships

SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5GmAlGEops / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7eKEAVXmbQ​

FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkx6xmIPcLA / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmRqLqlBrkc​

Ex: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=En8MaWi5ibE / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ka45-5uXqwQ​

​

1996 European Championships

SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P85wPFWBzgw​

FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyLpDaaGCOs​

1996 French Nationals

FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmHPZu_U0UI​

1995 GP NHK Trophy

SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dKlWfS0Mgk​

FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apVj0o1NZG8​

1995 GP Trophée de France

FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhRQm8lXZ28 / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGQOxqOPWe0​

Ex: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjkE8FFDbCI​

​

1995 GP Skate America

FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGwWvdHFb7U​

Ex: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJLmqXw1raM​

1994/1995
SP: "Cries of Beirut" by Dana Dragomir
LP:
Ex: "From the Death of Innocence" by DJ Trastornado

1995 World Championships

SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nCbuiiAXMM / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JYc4kmejCk​

FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GY0H__gqgQ​

Ex: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsKW1Wx6HqM​

​

1995 European Championships

SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5tM2TU1_d4​

FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJJ4FOy9yVY​

1995 French Nationals

FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezFdYPzQLBE​

1994 GP NHK Trophy

FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61ToGPs8WQ4​

Ex: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDtc_7UTeUE (with Philippe Candeloro)​

​

1994 GP Trophée de France

Ex: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5wNe2g_sFY / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxk2b5Rx3-w​

​

1994 GP Skate America

SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0M7g35w3TQ​

FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mk4RzTtgDCg / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGkI4mbbDxo​

1994 Goodwill Games

SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaiYAunHyLo​

FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=md83ylXGPEU​

Ex: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpMG_yCBy2Y​

​

1993/1994
SP: "The Cries of Beirut" performed by Dana Dragomir
LP: "The Four Seasons" by Antonio Vivaldi
Ex: "From the Death of Innocence" by DJ Trastornado / "Carnaval de Venise" by Mado Robin

1994 World Championships

SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQ5xtRfI_ZA / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sItV0dAUG4s​

FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fexLmuu4mlI / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juOCgiClp8E​

Medal ceremony: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgXQzfUHKWk​

Ex: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnZjs6qsHA0​

​

XVI Winter Olympic Games Lillehammer 1994

SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOkGmPdIAO8​

FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IikGxt1C06A / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5ugmU-_EXc​

Ex: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwlThF8tQz8​

​

1994 European Championships

SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ja2r4B1nUcc / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QY0pALpLLEw​

FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1yvqjnIY-A / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnw1RsxVxeQ​

1994 French Nationals

FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvsskY86aP4​

1993 Grand Prix International de Paris

SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcOTN-bqyf4​

FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwA3N7Q169E​

1993 GP NHK Trophy

SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6Iem_oAKTw​

FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTlfE7Y3bEk​

1993 GP Skate America

FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVBqIp1FOns​

Ex: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPtI5qr5Kss​

​

1993 Piruetten

SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckot5ThJmOM​

FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYHPBhd6EN0​

1992/1993
SP:
LP: "The Four Seasons" by A. Vivaldi

1993 World Championships

SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eIvO5ui4s4​

FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9O45WoZ06o​

Medal ceremony: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iW6YW8LXLaY​

​

1993 European Championships

SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bByHRps1lV8​

FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quCIaKEbmAU​

1993 French Nationals

FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=US_54_gWV64​

1992 Grand Prix International de Paris

FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIQT2M0SYWA​

Ex: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8w9oz1meME​

​

1992 GP NHK Trophy

FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X94UiHiZGmg​

1991/1992
SP: "Zorba the Greek"
LP1: "Gaîté Parisienne: Can Can" (Offenbach)
LP2: "Malagueña"
Ex: "Un bel di vedremo" from "Madame Butterfly" performed by Mirella Freni

1992 World Championships

SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoc7jVjr9JM / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jg9IGQKoMZ0​

​

XV Winter Olympic Games Albertville 1992

SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-v-WQw1ppE​

FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrqZQsVCIXQ / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCUZW9vbIMc​

Ex: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8io08qHg1MU / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgZy-10PFpI​

​

1992 European Championships

FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJvD7mu7VHk / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIDsHIYHPmc​

1991 Grand Prix International de Paris

SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDIy29x98Ug​

FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hq8wbzml9pc / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgDS59bJl_Y​

1991 GP NHK Trophy

SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6e_X0aFLWCg​

FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FiJF-gDaDE​

1991 GP Skate Canada

FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGZugC8a-SA​

1991 GP Skate America

FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39AmA5eJack​

Ex: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJrKcXFcH1c​

​

1990/1991
SP:
LP:

1991 World Championships

SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMYRkpTWxxA​

FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XzyAmySg5A / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1X14Q4NzoHo​

1991 European Championships

SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4Lxx0_C8QY​

FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OT9AGm30iZs​

Medal ceremony: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwhiOPwgx4A​

​

1991 World Junior Championships

FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbCTl_YPs-8 / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6XsE8jRkxA​

1990 Grand Prix International de Paris

FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqZSBm-bwPQ​

1990 Goodwill Games

SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jt-IRt5-K0w​

FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwnS58zjW4o​

1989/1990
SP:
LP: "The Feeling Begins" & "Sheherezade"

1990 World Championships

SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1bNthI9mqA​

​

1990 European Championships

SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Unk3nZp6G88​

FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MWZYAH-nNs​

1989 GP Skate America​

SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iwBAd4L_SA​

FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsY2H2M55sM / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFvFEkE3z18​

1988/1989
SP:
LP:

1989 World Championships

FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rr_zL0Q2w2E / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuAgx4_c9wY​

1989 European Championships

CF: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSW5JVynU90 (CF fluff)​

SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9CPxsCy-bc (partial)​

FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PgHh10XWS0​

1989 World Junior Championships

FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCLOqAtkqbE​

1988 Grand Prix International de Paris

FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxjEPAqCdbc (partial)​

1987/1988
SP:
LP:
1988 World Junior Championships

Ex: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCdpwIbXNiA​

​

Professional competitions
2000 Ice Wars: Four the World

TP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lyv7gq1wW3I (Andreas Wollenweider music)​

AP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4ZX4zPZEms​

2000 Goodwill Games

TP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NC9n4f8pp7g ("Exotica")​

AP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGc421mXbOo (Emma Shapplin song)​

2000 World Pro Championships

TP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5rcHk1K1LA ("Ninkou Latora" - Cirque du Soleil)​

AP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQ_yWt7TFf0 ("Dancin' Fool" by Copacabana)​

1999 World Pro Championships

TP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znMoRCap2Jo / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khgU4JXLCvA ("Exotica")​

AP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNAPZeFxITY​

​

1999 Keri Lotion Figure Skating Challenge program - "Cuore Senza Sangue" by Emma Shapplin - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95aTlgn9Fw8
1999 Ice Wars Four the World

AP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLSpxK-CRVA​

1998 Skate TV Championships

TP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnONbnB1v00 ("Spice Up Your Life" by Spice Girls)​

​

Galas and Exhibitions
December 2012 - Surya Bonaly 2012 Les Etoiles de la Glisse exhibition program 1 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orB3rbAg_j8
December 2012 - Surya Bonaly 2012 Les Etoiles de la Glisse exhibition program 2 ("Welcome to Burlesque" by Cher) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-cbt7eqycg
2011 Ai Golden Celebrities On Ice - ABBA medley - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dRud4-oJ9M
2011 Ai Golden Celebrities On Ice - "La Bella e la Bestia" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkxBXNPFq2M
8 December 2010 - Surya Bonaly 2010 Kaleidoscope exhibition program ("Ballroom Blitz") - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWAWdfO3qZs
2009 - Les étoiles de la glace: Surya Bonaly sur "Le bien qui fait mal" de Mozart - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHaiKUfX-3c
2009 Ice Jewelry - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6ni_7xSHHU
2006 Post-Olympic Gala Exhibition - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wklntqo2m30 ("Dancin' Fool")
2006 Celebrity on Ice - "Carmine Meo" by Emma Shapplin - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IUOokny_Uo
2002 Champions in Ice - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BO1Z86qKjFU ("March With Me" by Monstessat Caballe & Vangelis)
2000 Winter Champions on Ice - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPbVO5LBu3k
1998 Ice Girls - "New Pigvag" by Slam Jam - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKeaVO_dW-o
1998 improve-Ice - "Why Haven't I Heard From You" by Reba McIntyre - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8APcdTWNJyw
1993 - Surya Bonaly & Philippe Candeloro 1993 Lysiane Lauret Trophy exhibition program - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaHjAC6Rcn8

Interviews, Articles and Other Media
22 March 2019 - Surya Bonaly's Backflip | Official Clip | Losers | Netflix - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rE_4_CCEgc
14 December 2018 - Surya Bonaly at the Jason Show - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IruVyE76Mds
13 July 2018 - Radiolab - On the Edge -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s28KMn1oTgo
22 March 2018 - REBEL ON ICE-ESPN "SURYA BONALY "Special Story produced by Eva Longoria - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9c8ryIic1I
6 March 2018 - Willing to change the rules for a brighter future | Surya Bonaly | TEDxTorino - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYlH5188J5E
14 December 2017 - "Three Time Olympian Surya Bonaly Ice Skates in Wyandanch Plaza" by My Long Island TV - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJ0D-IXjH9I
24 April 2016 - TSL Talks Surya Bonaly on Radiolab and Recaps the 2016 Team Challenge Cup - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvV3mQfO-lU
22 February 2017 - Surya Bonaly's AMAZING Backflips - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTNCpsAZYZI
16 May 2016 - "Meet Surya Bonaly: The Backflipping Black Figure Skater Changed Sports Forever" by POPSUGAR Entertainment - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYt8h7ydprA
14 May 2016 - "How Backflipping Black Figure Skater Surya Bonaly Changed Sports Forever" by POPSUGAR Entertainment - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAhyMl_ZS04
26 November 2013 - "Surya Bonaly : «Oui, j'ai vécu une période d'injustice»" by Le Figaro - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxsK2RCnPHw

Hors Limites podcast series about Surya Bonaly by Anne-Cécile Genre and Théo Boulenger for Binge Radio (in French) - November 2018
Prologue - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6__6GqMk10
Episode 1 - Un corps extraordinaire - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOfLAEdqMCs / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4cY1tQIl5w
Episode 2 - Dépassement - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgbfLTu9Sfs
Episode 3 - Le feu des projecteurs - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcAbdfv2WDA
Episode 4 - Le paramètre humain - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lhTdn0O7Ww
Episode 5 - Etre née quelque part - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1yaPvZD1-0
Episode 6 - La tête à l'envers - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tK3Loz0piuM

Miscellanea
1986 - Surya Bonaly Tumbling World Championships - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuwfRqXbAHw

 

[Mohacz]

I've just started a thread dedicated to Surya Bonaly, one of the most successful Ladies figure skaters. Although she never reached the Olympic podium, she is a three-time World silver medalist and a five-time European champion. I always liked her programs because she was so different from other ladies skaters, so strong and so athletic. And I also remember her famous backflip landed on one blade during the 1998 Olympic Games and my astonished comment: "Oh, my God. She's just done an illegal element!". I think at that point she had nothing to lose. She was about to terminate her career and nothing could affect her reputation. And she said goodbye to the judges on her own terms

The thread is still under construction. I will add as many videos as I'll be able to find and other stuff related to her. By no means, she was someone very rare and special in the 90s.

 

[anonymoose_au]

Excellent choice of Fan Fest!

I have the vaguest memory of Surya competing at the 1998 Olympics and doing her backflip and my mother and I were like "NO WAY!" I'm sure also that I thought she should have won

 

[Mohacz]

Finally I've been able to complete Surya's thread. I've added as many competitive videos as I could find and quite a lot of her shows and professional competitions. I had terrible problem with the music she used in her programs as there's hardly any information, she used to return to the music skated in previous seasons and she was known to change the music in the last moment.

I've also added links to a series of French podcasts that was aired last year and may be of some interest to the French-speaking fans. She was also a speaker at the TED Talks and she still appears in the media. It's good to know she has not been forgotten.

Enjoy

 

[VenusHalley]

Wow, thank you for the extensive list of links to her programs. I missed out some of these and I love to rewatch many of her programs.

She was the one who brought me to figure skating fandom.

 

[Harriet]

As was posted by layman on the FSU forums, Surya Bonaly was named a Knight of the Legion of Honour in her hometown of Nice on 13 December 2019. Congratulations Surya!

 

[Honey20]

One of the most talented and misunderstood skaters! I loved watching her skate, but it was frustrating that she didn’t get the recognition she deserved. That one-footed backflip, love it!!

 

[CYInt85]

I hope you all are doing well. Please check out below a new interview with Surya Bonaly. Please share it with other figure skating fans.

Thank you so much for your time. Your support is appreciated.

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com