Surya Bonaly, one of the icons of world figure skating, revealed on Friday that she had been the victim of a burglary that resulted in the disappearance of all her gold and silver medals. On Instagram, where she alerted her followers, the champion explained that she discovered the theft while she was at the hospital with her seriously ill mother. "All my gold medals were stolen."she wrote, expressing her anger and shock.
Relics of an exceptional track record
Having lived in Las Vegas for many years, Surya Bonaly kept at home the trophies that marked her international career. She notably won three silver medals at the World Championships between 1993 and 1995, as well as five consecutive European titles from 1991 to 1995. These historic achievements are frequently mentioned in the specialized press in the United States, as regularly highlighted by The New York Times and USA Today, which still refer to her pivotal role in the evolution of figure skating.
A personal tragedy compounding a critical family situation
As reported Le Parisien On the 14th, Surya Bonaly left her home to accompany her mother, who was hospitalized in Minnesota. Her mother is battling lung, breast, and sternum cancer. The former athlete is also going through a similar ordeal, as she herself is undergoing treatment for breast cancer. The discovery of the burglary came at a time when she was already experiencing significant anxiety related to her mother's health.
An investigation is underway to recover irreplaceable items.
Local authorities have launched an investigation to determine the circumstances of the burglary and try to recover the missing medals. Beyond their material value, these awards represent years of effort and achievements that have shaped the history of world figure skating.
