In July and August, espnWs weekly essay series will focus on body image.?When I think of the years it tk for me to accept my body as a vehicle both artistic and revolutionary, I remember Surya Bonaly.I first saw her compete watching the 1992 Winter Olympics on television. With her electric eyeliner and sequined leotard, she was the frozen Grace Jones of dreams.?In Surya, I saw a representation of my own figure, which was described as t physical, t defiant, t sensual during my years of training as a dancer.Similar to me, Bonalys figure did not fit the contours and fragility of the ice princess; she was ridiculed by the world of figure skating -- often more for her physicality than her immense talent as an athlete. Some in the figure skating world pegged her as a rebel. Even enthusiasts who described her performances as wonderful and spectacular mentioned her excellence with the caveat that she didnt lk like the typical ice princess.Of course, ice princess was just shorthand for the fact Bonaly possessed some of the stereotypical markers of a black womans body. She had a short, muscular stature with thick thighs and legs. She had dark skin of unmistakably African origins.In order to capitalize on the attention put upon Bonalys physical contrast with the pale ice princess aesthetic, and to bolster publicity, the French skating federation spread rumors about her heritage: that Bonaly was found off the coast of Madagascar as an infant, rescued from a coconut-strewn beach, the exotic juxtaposition of the jungle brought to the ice. The language that surrounds the legacy of Surya Bonaly is dangerous. The words do more to uphold long-standing biases against strength, independence and femininity than to further the integrity of competition.Bonalys dynamism transformed the landscape of contemporary figure skating. By the age of 22, Bonaly had already won five consecutive European Figure Skating Championship titles. She was the undisputed French champion for nine years. In a sport with little innovation, Bonaly trademarked the one-ft backflip, a move attributed to no other competitive skater. She completed her career as a three-time world silver medalist and five-time European champion.Reminiscent of the criticism women experience in the everyday world, the notion that a sport dominated by powerful women requires its participants to conform to a version of femininity that complies with stringent cultural normativity comes as no surprise. However, this should not be the burden of an athlete (or any person, for that matter) -- to fit the talents and triumphs of an extraordinary body into one narrowly defined box.I must have been about 16 when my mother tk my sister and me to see Champions on Ice. Surya Bonaly performed, fresh off her final Olympic run in Nagano, Japan, the place where, still recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon, she debuted her signature backflip at the risk of disqualification. In Champions on Ice, her routine was not flawless. She fell while trying to complete a triple axel but finished smiling and waving with all the charm of Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco. The tenaciousness of Surya Bonaly makes her more of a champion than all of her titles combined.For the girl I was back then -- still trying to starve and destruct myself to fit in the status quo -- she will always be an icon. Ferocity in sequins, Bonaly performed one death-defying backflip after the other, both on and off the ice.Shayla Lawson is the author of three poetry collections: A Speed Education in Human Being (Sawyer House Press, 2013), PANTONE (MIEL Bks, 2016), and the forthcoming I Think Im Ready to See Frank Ocean (Saturnalia Bks, 201. She is a member of the Affrilachian Poets. Adidas Yeezy Bst Ireland . Ouellette, from Montreal, already has three Olympic gold medals since joining the team in 1999. Adidas Zx 750 Ireland . -- Mike Smith never saw his first NHL goal go in. http://www.yeezysupplyireland.com/ . -- The Bishops Gaiters are showing they belong among the countrys top varsity ftball teams. Adidas Zx 750 Buy Online . -- Cam Newton pranced into the end zone, placed his hands over his chest and did his familiar Superman pose. st-ireland-sale.html" target="_blank">Adidas Yeezy Bst Ireland . It was the second consecutive win for the Pacers (2-5), who lost their first five preseason games. Jeff Teague led the Hawks (1-5) with 17 points and eight assists and Al Horford had 12 points and seven rebounds. Mike Scott scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half. AUBURN, Ala. -- Auburns depleted backfield tk another blow when coach Gus Malzahn dismissed top running back Jovon Robinson from the team.A source told ESPNs Brett McMurphy that Robinson was dismissed for repeatedly missing classes and meetings and for his continued inattention to detail in everything.Malzahn said he kicked Robinson, Auburns top returning rusher, off the team Wednesday before the Tigers first practice of preseason camp.He did not meet my standards or expectations of what it takes to be an Auburn Tiger ftball player, Malzahn said. Were going to have zero distractions on this team this year. Ive given him his release, and we wish him the best.Robinson came on strong late last season and ran for 639 yards and three touchdowns. Leading rusher Peyton Barber left early to enter the NFL draft, and No. 3 runner Roc Thomas transferred to FCS Jacksonville State. Barber went undrafted.The Tigers, who open Sept. 3 against defending ACC champion Clemson, added former Baylor signee Kam Martin this summer after he was granted a release from his scholarship.Kerryon Johnson is now the most established back on the team. He ran for 208 yards and also returned kicks last season as a freshman. Johnson missed virtually all of spring practice recovering from shoulder surgery.Were very confident in him, Malzahn said. Hes put on about 20 pounds. Hes a guy that weve recruited to be a marquee back. Hes got a great opportunity now. Hes in a gd spot.Malzahn also said that Kamryn Pettway, a converted fullback, will get a shot.Receiver Marcus Davis said the team learned about Malzahns decision before practice.Jovon is a great guy, great teammate and everything, but we just focus on whats best for the team, Davis said. Its nothing I really sat down and thought about yeet, but at the same time, if coach Malzahn thinks its the best thing for the team, Im pretty sure everybodys going to be on board with that.ddddddddddddRobinson had signed with Auburn in 2012 but was ruled ineligible after a guidance counselor admitted to creating a fake transcript. He transferred to Georgia Military College and was the 2013 NJCAA national player of the year.He set junior college records for a season in rushing yards (2,387), touchdowns (34) and points scored (204).We all support Coachs decision, offensive tackle Austin Golson said. No one player is going to be able to take down our team. I believe that were going to respond well and just keep practicing. We have plenty of other options that will be able to help us out. I think were all going to be fine.Last season, Auburn opened camp with star wide receiver Dhaquille Williams suspended. He never got going during the season and was dismissed after a bar fight. Auburn, which was the preseason favorite in the Southeastern Conference, stumbled to a 7-6 season.Robinsons dismissal is perhaps the biggest story at the start of camp, along with the three-man quarterback competition among 2015 starters Jeremy Johnson and Sean White and junior college transfer John Franklin III. Johnson and White struggled much of last season.Were going to rotate each day whos going to be out there first, Malzahn said. Were going to have equal reps. We have a gd plan for putting them in competitive situations every practice. We will chart everything. Were hoping we can name a guy sner rather than later but well give everybody an equal shot.The Associated Press contributed to this report. ' ' '