Surya Bonaly’s Medals Stolen Amid Cancer Battle

In a heartbreaking turn of events, Olympic figure skating icon Surya Bonaly has revealed that her cherished medals were stolen from her Las Vegas home. The theft occurred earlier this month while Bonaly, 51, is already bravely battling breast cancer and caring for her mother, who is fighting lung, breast, and sternum cancer.

A Devastating Discovery

Bonaly shared the shocking news on Instagram on November 7th, expressing her distress over the loss of her competitive awards. “You see all those medals that I won in the past while competing in different worlds and European championships are sadly gone,” she wrote, accompanying her post with photos from her illustrious career. She suspects the culprits were an “organized couple.”

She urged Las Vegas residents and pawn shops to be vigilant and contact the police immediately if anyone attempts to sell foreign gold or silver medals. Bonaly believes the burglary was meticulously planned, potentially carried out by a professional operation rather than a random act.

An Organized and Brazen Break-In

According to reports, the incident took place over four days. Surveillance footage obtained by FOX 5 Vegas reportedly shows two different individuals entering Bonaly’s home each day. The break-in was brazen, with windows shattered, cameras disabled, and the WiFi cut off. One of the individuals, a woman in a black hoodie possibly wearing a delivery vest, was seen entering the home, and a similar vest was later found abandoned nearby.

Bonaly, a five-time European champion and three-time World Championship silver medalist, expressed her deep emotional turmoil over the incident. “Well, just — I feel mad. I feel like sometimes I feel like I want to cry,” she shared in an interview, reflecting on the violation and the audacity of the thieves. “Some people just feel like it’s better to steal something from someone than to go to work.”

A Double Battle: Cancer and Theft

The theft adds an immense layer of stress to Bonaly’s already challenging health battle. Undergoing treatment for breast cancer while dealing with the violation of her home and the loss of deeply personal and valuable items is an incredibly difficult situation. The medals stolen represent significant moments from her groundbreaking career, including junior titles, European championships, and world competitions.