2007-12-13 06:10:55 · 8 answers · asked by NENA B KNOWING 1 in Sports ➔ Olympics
I tried to Google her, but there weren't any recent photo's of her available. They did state she might have been one of the first to include a flip in her routine (including male skaters), then counter augured she did it to obscure the fact that she lacked significant jumps. I'm wondering if she was the same skater I watched that included mid air splits in her routine as well.
Post Script:
I remember her now. You spelled her name incorrectly, it's Bonaly, and she was from France. I remembered she was adopted and her natural hair was so long due to the fact she had never had it cut. It went way down beyond her waist and she was a very athletic skater. I believe she had to contend with a lot of racism which a lot of black skaters did at that time when she was prominent and still do. I was sorry she didn't go further but I really enjoyed watching her perform.
2007-12-13 06:20:42 · answer #1 · answered by sustasue 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That would be Surya Bonaly of France, a nine time French national champion, five time European champion, and three time World silver medalist. Sadly, she never won an Olympic medal, though she competed in three Olympics (5th place in '92, 4th place in '94, and 10th place in '98). Surya was a competitive gymnast before switching to figure skating, which is why she was able to perform the back flip better than anyone else in figure skating history, in a laid out position with the ability to land on one skate. Often she would connect the one footed landing to an immediate spiral, and sometimes even a triple salchow. The backflip was outlawed in official competition by the International Skating Union in 1977 because it is considered too dangerous, but Bonaly would always perform the trick in warm-ups, exhibitions, and non-ISU sanctioned professional competitions.
2007-12-13 16:35:22 · answer #2 · answered by Michael N 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ice skater here!
Surya Bonaly
Her official website by Surya Bonaly herself . . . but still in the works:
http://suryabonaly.com/
Surya Bonaly backflip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFPEchPbJH0
What she actually did was a BACK flip - and she could land it on one foot (which almost all other skaters who can do it land on 2 feet). There is a jump in figure skating called "flip" but that's totally different from BACK flip (which is more a gymnastics move).
Hope that helps!
2007-12-13 19:30:13 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
She was French and competed at the top level, but never won any international competition outside of Europe. She turned professional and toured for several years.
2007-12-13 14:23:10 · answer #4 · answered by lestermount 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I remember her. She was French, black, and much bigger than her competition. Her routines featured remarkably powerful jumps and marred with a lack of grace and flow.
She was a tremendous talent who was, sadly, poorly coached.
2007-12-17 10:42:09 · answer #5 · answered by call me Al 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I do remember her - but if asked, I wouldn't have been able to tell you her name. That was very controversial at the time: the flip....
2007-12-13 14:14:26 · answer #6 · answered by IJToomer 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think she was French and her name was something like Surya Bonale.
2007-12-13 14:18:18 · answer #7 · answered by Lepke 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yea it was incredible...... I have video taped it......
2007-12-13 15:40:34 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋