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Surya Bonaly Provides Hospital Update on Mother Suzanne Bonaly
Surya Bonaly, a nine-time French solo champion and three-time Olympian who now resides in Las Vegas, posted a photograph showing her mother alitée in a hospital bed with a visibly exhausted expression. According to Le Parisien, Suzanne Bonaly is battling a triple cancer affecting her lung, breast, and sternum. In her Instagram post, Surya Bonaly expressed gratitude to the medical staff, writing, “Still in intensive care, but it’s going a little better today thanks to the nurse who works tirelessly. I am so grateful to her for her dedication.”
The Athletic Legacy and Family History of the Bonaly Family
Suzanne Bonaly, a former sports teacher, adopted Surya with her husband Georges Bonaly and introduced her daughter to figure skating at age three. Suzanne Bonaly’s rigorous coaching style frequently drew media attention throughout her daughter’s competitive career, which included a celebrated performance of her signature backflip—at the 1998 Nagano Olympics.
Personal Challenges and Life in the United States
Le Parisien notes that Surya Bonaly has faced her own battle with breast cancer. Additionally, the former champion suffered a major personal loss last year when all of her gold and silver medals were stolen during a burglary at her home. Amid these hardships, Bonaly balances her professional coaching commitments in the United States with frequent hospital visits to care for her mother.
Peter Biver Supports the Skating Icon
Surya Bonaly shares her life with Peter Biver, a fellow figure skating coach of American origin, according to Closer. Biver stood by her side in 2019 when the French government awarded her the Légion d’honneur. Biver serves as co-director of the figure skating program at Shattuck-St. Mary’s School in Minnesota, a prestigious preparatory school. Before transitioning to coaching, Biver earned six U.S. Figure Skating (USFS) gold medals across freestyle, compulsory dances, and pair skating disciplines.
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