Defying all expectations, French figure skater Surya Bonaly performed a dangerous stunt that was banned in the Olympic Games.

Defying societal expectations is like breaking free from invisible chains. It is like unleashing countless opportunities and exhilarating possibilities in the future. Those who emerge successful through the predetermined limits, become living testaments to the limitless potential of the human spirit. The French figure skater, Surya Bonaly, who performed an outrageous backflip at the 1998 Olympics in Japan, epitomizes this profound truth. Notably, backflips were, and still are, considered illegal in competitions under the International Skating Union (ISU). After Bonaly’s performance, the stunt was never seen again in Olympic competition.

“At first I was almost ashamed… Maybe I'm going to be hated forever. I'm not that [much of] a rebel. I appreciate it (the iconic backflip) more and I feel more proud of myself, now and today than years ago for when I did it," Bonaly shared in an in-depth interview for the Olympic Games. The three-time World Cup silver medalist further acknowledged that she performed the dangerous stunt knowing that it could negatively affect her scores, which eventually happened. However, her strong determination, resilience and desire to do something that will forever be remembered won the battle. “I think as a pioneer, I think, that is most important to be able to say that,” the world-famous athlete revealed. Though Bonaly never won an Olympic medal, she became a global icon for being the first and only skater to perform a backflip and land on one blade, as seen on Olympic Figure Skating's YouTube. Her name is now synonymous with this phenomenal move.