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Surya Bonaly
Figure skater & the only woman to land a backflip on one blade
Judges marked her down, so she landed the one move no one else would try — and skated off the ice on her own terms.
The rise
Adopted from Réunion and raised near Nice, Bonaly was a French national champion nine consecutive times and a three-time World Championship silver medalist. Known for her athletic power in a sport that rewarded artistry, she battled judging bias throughout her career.