The Forbidden 'Symbol of Resistance' Figure Skating Backflip to Be Officially Recognized as a Technique

No Deductions for Risk Reasons
Technique Performed by Black Player Bonali as a Protest Against Racism

The 'backflip,' a technique banned in figure skating due to its high risk of injury, has been officially recognized as a valid element.

The International Skating Union (ISU) decided on the 14th (Korean time) at its general meeting held in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, that from the 2024?2025 season onward, skaters attempting the backflip will no longer receive deductions. The backflip is a move involving a backward somersault in the air, and the ISU had banned this move since 1976 citing safety concerns. Previously, skaters attempting the backflip were penalized 2 points regardless of success.

A book containing the story of Bonali

In the figure skating world, the backflip has also symbolized resistance. Surya Bonaly, an African-French female singles skater who dominated the figure skating scene in the 1990s, claimed that despite her overwhelming technical skills, she was unable to reach the top in major international competitions due to her skin color. Bonaly executed high-level techniques such as the triple Axel and quadruple jumps, but she placed second three times at the World Championships from 1993 to 1995 and failed to win a medal at the Olympics.

Bonaly protested that her skin color influenced the results. After winning the silver medal behind Japan’s Yuka Sato at the 1994 World Championships, she refused to step onto the podium. At the 1998 Nagano Olympic Games women’s singles free skate, she performed a backflip as a form of protest before retiring. Because of this background, the backflip has been regarded as a symbol of resistance against racial discrimination.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.