Olympic figure skating legend Surya Bonaly revealed that her Las Vegas home was burglarized while she was in Minnesota caring for her cancer-stricken mother.
The French athlete is pleading for help after thieves stole every medal she earned during her celebrated career.
Police Investigating Surya Bonaly’s Las Vegas Burglary
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department has launched an investigation after Bonaly’s home was ransacked over four days. She described it as a “well-organized” burglary crew.
Bonaly said security footage captured several individuals returning to the home repeatedly between November 4 and 7. They systematically broke windows, cut Wi-Fi lines, and disabled cameras. Surveillance clips obtained by Fox 5 Vegas reportedly show one suspect wearing a black hoodie and another disguised in a delivery vest.
“I think it’s definitely organized by a company or by some bad people,” Bonaly told Fox 5 Vegas. The burglars made off with every medal Bonaly won during her competitive years. These include European, World, and national championship titles collected between 1989 and 1995.
Bonaly posted a message on Instagram asking pawn shop owners and Vegas residents to remain vigilant. “If you ever see some foreign gold and silver medals for sale, please call the police immediately,” she wrote.
Her Medals Represent A Colorful Career
The theft robbed Bonaly of decades of achievements that defined her as one of figure skating’s most fearless competitors. A five-time European champion and nine-time French national champion, Bonaly broke barriers in the sport with her signature athleticism and artistry.
Her career reached international acclaim during the 1990s when she became known for her daring backflips. At the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics, she performed a historic one-footed backflip, a move still remembered as one of skating’s boldest moments.
Although she never won an Olympic medal, Bonaly earned multiple World Championship podium finishes and represented France in three Olympic Games. She has since continued to inspire younger generations through her coaching and appearances at figure skating events.
Speaking to Fox 5 Vegas, Bonaly expressed anguish over the loss. She described the medals as symbols of a lifetime of dedication. “European champion or world champion, junior, everything, any medals that I had with my skating,” she said. “I feel mad. Sometimes I feel like I want to cry.”
A Difficult Year for the Skating Legend
Bonaly revealed she was in Minnesota caring for her mother, who is battling multiple forms of cancer, when the burglary occurred. The skater herself is also undergoing treatment for breast cancer. However, she continues to train athletes while balancing her own health challenges.
When she returned to Las Vegas days later, Bonaly discovered her home had been completely ransacked and the medals gone. She later found a vest similar to the one worn by the suspect, which had been discarded on a nearby street.
Despite the trauma, Bonaly says she still loves her neighborhood and intends to remain in her home. “I’m hoping I can find maybe some medals,” she said. “I pray really that no one’s gonna melt them.” Police are asking anyone with information about the Surya Bonaly Las Vegas burglary to contact local authorities.
