She was a big star. Everybody wanted to write a story about her. But she was black, ice skating was not used to black skaters.” The first I heard of Surya Bonaly was on the Netflix series Losers – Judgment, a documentary that shines light on the underrepresented layers of societal stereotypes and expectations in competitive sports. While some aspects of my and Bonaly’s lives are similar, the differences are far more prominent. Surya Bonaly, unlike me, has faced numerous instances of discrimination, she never let criticism prevent her from pursuing her dreams whereas I have, but we both have faced challenges for not fitting into stereotypes.
The first difference between Surya Bonaly and my life are the numerous instances of discrimination and prejudice she faced throughout her career. Despite her immense talent and hard work, she was often judged based on her race and…show more content… The incredible grit she demonstrated to push through rough times has not only helped her gain the fame and success she so rightfully deserves, but has served as inspiration for black female athletes all over the world. She persevered through a 4th place ranking in the 1994 Winter Olympics and continued to push the boundaries of figure skating. During the 1998 Nagano Games, Bonaly had set her mind on reviving her former disappointing losses, and incorporated a backflip into her routine. A backflip is an illegal move in figure skating; both Bonaly and the judges knew she would place far closer to last place than first, but the crowd went wild, and it satisfied Surya far more than any medal would have. I have had to confront my own disappointments about my performance in cricket and my heavy contribution to our loss, which currently has me feeling reluctant to participate in another cricket tournament altogether. All in all, Bonaly demonstrates greater resilience in handling judgment, showcasing her stronger mental
