Olympic Star's Prized Medals Stolen in 'Well-Organised' Burglary
A former French Olympic figure skating champion, currently battling breast cancer, has suffered a devastating blow after thieves ransacked her Las Vegas home and stole the entire collection of medals from her illustrious career. Surya Bonaly, 51, was out of state in Minnesota, caring for her mother who is also fighting multiple forms of cancer, when the burglars struck.
A Heartbreaking Discovery Upon Return
Bonaly returned to her property three days later to find her home completely turned over. In a heartfelt post on her Instagram account, the skater revealed the profound loss. 'You see all those medals that I won in the past while competing in different worlds and European championships are sadly gone,' she wrote. The stolen haul included every medal from her 11-year career, a tangible record of her sporting life.
She described the incident as a 'well-organised burglary' and shared security footage with Fox 5 Local Las Vegas that showed multiple individuals breaking into her home over the course of several days. The thieves were captured on camera breaking windows, tearing down security cameras, and cutting the WiFi. One figure wore a black hoodie, while a woman was seen in a delivery vest; Bonaly later found a similar vest discarded a street away.
A Plea to the Public and a Storied Career
In a direct appeal to her community, Bonaly posted: 'Little reminder to Vegas residents or Pawn Shops, if you ever see some foreign gold and silver medals for sales, Please Please call the Police immediately.' The emotional toll is immense. 'Well, just — I feel mad. I feel like sometimes I feel like I want to cry,' she told reporters, expressing her despair that someone would choose to steal rather than work.
Surya Bonaly's skating career spanned from 1987 to 1998, during which she became a five-time European Champion (1991-1995) and a three-time World Championship silver medallist. She competed in three Winter Olympics: Albertville 1992 (5th), Lillehammer 1994 (4th), and Nagano 1998. It was at the 1998 Games that she made Olympic history by becoming the first and only skater to land a backflip on one blade, a move that was subsequently banned.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department is now investigating the burglary. Bonaly's greatest hope is that her medals are not destroyed. '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 said, clinging to the possibility of being reunited with the symbols of her incredible athletic achievements.
