When people ask, “Where is Surya Bonaly now?” the answer is a blend of coaching, commentary and a renewed spotlight on a move that once cost her a chance at Olympic glory. The French‑born, Black figure skater stunned the world at the 1998 Nagano Games by landing a backflip—a daring element banned by the International Skating Union in 1977. More than a quarter‑century later, her legacy resurfaced in Milan‑Cortina as U.S. Prodigy Ilia Malinin executed a one‑footed backflip, helping Team USA clinch gold in the team event.
Bonaly, now a skating instructor in Minnesota, says the sport finally “gets” her signature move. “People have a more open mind now and are more accepting of others who do things differently,” she told USA TODAY Sports — “It’s even nicer now because I can feel that it’s been well digested … if it’s good, it’s good and that’s it, whether you are black, white, Chinese or Asian.”
From Nagano to Milan: a backflip’s long‑awaited return
At the 1998 Winter Games, Bonaly’s spontaneous backflip earned her a penalty and a drop from sixth after the short program to tenth after the free skate, ending her Olympic run without a medal. “I had nothing to lose anymore,” she said of that moment, adding, “I did it because I was an athlete and I wanted to show that I can do that … I left my trademark.”
In February 2026, Ilia Malinin’s one‑footed backflip during the men’s free skate sparked the same gasp of disbelief that echoed through the arena in 1998. The move capped a program that propelled Team USA to its second consecutive team gold, marking the first Olympic backflip since Bonaly’s historic attempt — a feat highlighted by Newsweek’s coverage of Malinin’s performance.
Life after the spotlight: Bonaly’s new role
After retiring from competition, Bonaly settled in Minnesota, where she now teaches skating to the next generation. “I’m also something else besides the backflips. So hopefully people remember me for the rest of my skating,” she said, emphasizing her broader contributions as a nine‑time French national champion, five‑time European champion and three‑time World silver medalist.
She has never met Malinin, yet her path crossed his when she “ran into his parents at the 2016 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Minnesota,” a moment that sparked her interest in the young “Quad God.” She recalled, “I remember his mom saying, ‘Oh, I have a son, he skates a little bit actually.’ And I was like, ‘Wow, that’s cool.’”
Malinin’s moment and Bonaly’s reflections
Malinin, whose nickname “Quad God” reflects his seven quadruple jumps, explained his decision to include the backflip in his free skate after the ISU lifted the ban in 2024: “I decided to put it in my free skate, because it fits the music really well. It gets that audience applause, feels really suspenseful and I really just like doing it.” — as reported by Yahoo Sports. Bonaly applauds his “warrior” spirit, saying the backflip “sometimes is not the most difficult,” but she urges him to perfect his quads: “I aim for him to do a perfect quad so nobody can say, ‘Oh yeah, but it’s (underrated)…’ I’m sick and tired of people already trying to add a negative spin.”
In a discussion on the “Milan Magic” podcast, USA TODAY reporter Christine Brennan and Olympic champion Brian Boitano explained that the backflip can now be used in a choreographic sequence, earning component scores but no base value — a rule change highlighted in USA TODAY’s podcast transcript.
The future of the backflip in figure skating
Bonaly’s journey from penalized rebel to celebrated pioneer underscores a broader shift in figure skating’s culture. “The backflip sometimes is not the most difficult,” she told reporters, emphasizing that artistic risks are now part of the sport’s evolution. As Malinin prepares for his individual men’s free skate, viewers can expect the backflip to remain a crowd‑pleaser, even as judges continue to weigh its artistic merit without awarding technical points—a balance that reflects the ISU’s post‑2024 stance.
For a closer look at Malinin’s final Olympic skate, see the NBC New York video, which captures the drama of his performance.
As the 2026 Games conclude, Surya Bonaly’s influence endures on the ice and in the coaching rink of Minnesota. Her story reminds us that daring moves can transcend rules, inspire new generations, and reshape a sport’s narrative. Follow the conversation, share your thoughts, and stay tuned for the next chapter in figure skating’s evolving legacy.
