Surya Bonaly: Why Is Her Name Important In This Moment

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The Winter Olympics are underway, and one of the biggest stories to emerge has been the ascent of Ilia Malinin, the American figure skater who has turned heads with his admittedly impressive backflips. While Malinin has received much praise, we’d be remiss if we didn’t put some respect on the name of Surya Bonaly, the Black woman who pioneered the technique. 

Who Is Surya Bonaly?

Surya Bonaly is a former French figure skater who gained prominence from the late ‘80s through the ‘90s.