02/13/2026
It’s funny how something becomes “revolutionary” only after the right person does it.
As the skating world celebrates Ilia Malinin for landing a backflip at the 2026 Winter Olympics, many fans are remembering that Surya Bonaly did it decades earlier. At the 1998 Nagano Games, Bonaly performed a backflip landing on one blade, a move banned in competition, in a moment that remains iconic.
At the time, her defiance was controversial. Commentator Scott Hamilton warned, “She’s going to get nailed.” Years later, Bonaly reflected on the double standard, saying, “I’m not crazy, but I was called untethered, and now it’s OK.”
Malinin’s athleticism is widely praised, and rightfully so. But remembering Bonaly’s fearless performance adds important context. Innovation doesn’t appear overnight — sometimes it begins long before the spotlight catches up.
