This Legendary Skater Wasn't The Typical "Ice Princess"

Surya Bonaly was orphaned at birth and adopted by a white family. But she found comfort in sports, and soon was a junior champion in both gymnastics and ice skating.

But there were no other Black girls on the ice. Would she let that stop her?

Women’s ice skating is filled with stereotypes. The champion skaters were “ice princesses,” which meant grace, elegance ... and whiteness. 

But Bonaly was Black, and her powerful, athletic skating shocked judges. Instead of recognizing her talent and profession, they shunned her.

After being passed over too many times in competitions in which she was clearly superior, Bonaly was annoyed.

But she had a secret weapon in her back pocket that NOBODY could ignore.

During her final Olympics performance, she accepted that the white establishment would never accept her. So she did something NO other skater had even attempted, because it was so dangerous.

For her last move, she pulled an incredible BACKFLIP! The judges couldn’t ignore that.

She received massive deductions in her score for the illegal move. But she backflipped straight into our hearts, inspiring Black girls around the world.

She didn’t need the establishment’s acceptance, and Bonaly’s challenge to racism in skating will forever be legendary!