Olympic Figure Skater Surya Bonaly’s Medals Stolen During Family Crisis

Former French Olympic figure skater Surya Bonaly is experiencing a profound personal loss after thieves systematically burglarized her Las Vegas home while she was away caring for her cancer-stricken mother in Minnesota. The 51-year-old skating icon discovered that her entire collection of medals—representing European championships, world championships, and other international competitions throughout her 1989-1995 career—had been stolen during a calculated break-in that occurred over four days. Security footage revealed different individuals arriving each day, methodically shattering windows, tearing down cameras, and cutting Wi-Fi connections. Among the perpetrators was someone wearing what appeared to be a delivery vest, which Bonaly later found abandoned a street away from her home. “I think it’s definitely organized by a company or by some bad people,” Bonaly told local media, expressing her devastation at losing these irreplaceable symbols of her life’s achievements.

The timing of this heartbreaking theft couldn’t have been more difficult for Bonaly, who is simultaneously undergoing treatment for breast cancer herself while caring for her mother who is battling lung, breast, and sternum cancer. When she returned home three days after the burglary, she found her residence completely ransacked and her precious medals gone. These weren’t merely metal tokens but representations of pivotal moments in her life, including medals personally presented by the French president. “I was there when the president of my French country gave me that as a present. So it’s a big honor,” Bonaly shared, explaining the deep personal significance these items held beyond their athletic value. The emotional impact has been tremendous, with Bonaly admitting, “Well, just—I feel mad. I feel like sometimes I feel like I want to cry. Some people just feel like it’s better to steal something from someone than to go to work.”

Despite this violation, Bonaly has shown remarkable resilience, consistent with the spirit that defined her skating career. She has made a public appeal on Instagram, asking Las Vegas residents and pawn shops to be vigilant for her stolen medals. “You see all those medals that I won in the past while competing in different worlds and European championships are sadly gone,” she wrote, requesting that anyone who spots foreign gold and silver medals for sale contact police immediately. While the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department is investigating the burglary, Bonaly maintains hope that her treasured medals might be recovered before they’re melted down. Though heartbroken, she refuses to be driven from her neighborhood, instead planning to enhance her home security with additional cameras. “I’m hoping that I can find maybe some medals. I’m hoping, and I pray really that no [one’s] gonna melt that medal,” she expressed with characteristic optimism.

Bonaly’s remarkable life story makes this theft all the more poignant. Born in Nice, France, she was adopted from an orphanage when she was just eight months old. Her parents recognized her athletic potential early, training her rigorously from childhood toward becoming a world-class figure skater. Their dedication paid dividends as Surya went on to earn five European championships and nine French national titles during her illustrious career. She represented France in three Winter Olympics—1992, 1994, and 1998—coming closest to an Olympic medal with a fourth-place finish in 1994. Beyond her competitive achievements, Bonaly became internationally renowned for her innovative, acrobatic style that pushed the boundaries of traditional figure skating. Her athletic approach to the sport showcased extraordinary strength and flexibility that few skaters of her era could match.

What truly distinguished Bonaly in skating history, however, was her fearless willingness to challenge conventions. She became famous for performing backflips on ice—a move prohibited in competition due to safety concerns and landing regulations. At the 1998 Nagano Olympics in Japan, Bonaly made skating history with an act of athletic rebellion that still resonates in the sport today. Knowing she was out of medal contention and frustrated with judging she perceived as biased, Bonaly performed the first-ever backflip landed on one blade during her Olympic free skate. This deliberate rule violation resulted in a penalty, but the breathtaking technical achievement and audacious spirit behind it cemented her legacy as one of figure skating’s most boundary-pushing performers. The moment is still considered one of the sport’s boldest statements and most memorable Olympic performances, representing both technical mastery and personal defiance.

Today, Bonaly has gained even deeper appreciation for her contributions to the sport. “I appreciate it so much more now,” she told Olympics.com about her groundbreaking 1998 routine. “I’m more proud of myself today than I was all those years ago when I actually did the backflip.” After her competitive career, Bonaly transitioned to coaching and performing in ice shows, eventually settling in Las Vegas where she continues to share her knowledge with the next generation of skaters. This recent burglary represents not just a theft of valuable items but an attempt to erase tangible reminders of a pioneering athletic career—one characterized by breaking barriers, challenging norms, and performing with distinctive flair. As the investigation continues, the skating community and fans worldwide hope these irreplaceable symbols of Bonaly’s remarkable journey will find their way back to their rightful owner, a true trailblazer who continues to face life’s challenges with the same courage she once displayed on Olympic ice.