How Surya Bonaly Challenged the Figure Skating Ideal and Paid for It

Surya Bonaly was an anomaly when she entered the world of professional figure skating in the early 1990s. She was Black and French, and she skated with a fire and athleticism that drew criticism.

Bonaly was a three-time World silver medalist who suffered a career-ending injury just before the 1998 Olympics at Nagano. But before she left, she became the first and only skater to land a back flip at the games.

Radiolab explored Surya's career and the antagonism she received inside and outside of the sport with incredible reporting from Tracie Hunte and Latif Nasser.

Listen below.






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