Interview Kimmy Repond (English)

We spoke with Swiss figure skater Kimmy Repond, who finished seventh at this year's European Championships following a challenging recovery from injury, building on her remarkable third-place finish last year.

Solène: How do you feel about your performance at the European Championships?

Kimmy: I'm honestly unhappy with my results or performance. There were aspects that I felt good about, but I made too many mistakes. It's frustrating because some of these elements are usually easy for me. I wasn't tired; it was more about not having enough time to prepare correctly, combined with the nerves. It's one thing to execute jumps in practice but quite another under pressure. I'm disappointed but determined to go back, work hard, and prepare for the Worlds.

Solène: Do you use any strategies to help with nerves?

Kimmy: I remind myself of my past achievements and remind myself that it's not just about one skate. I focus on doing my best at the moment. Remembering that I won Nationals and placed third at Europeans in 2023 helps me stay grounded and give my best performance.

Solène: The audience got to know you after your bronze medal last year. Now that people know you more and expect more from you, do you feel it has made a difference for you? Does it affect you in any way?

Kimmy: No, not at all. It makes me very happy. It doesn’t change how I perform because I always aim to show my best and demonstrate what I have practiced. I believe the mistakes in Kaunas were due to the limited preparation time, but I don’t feel any additional pressure.

Solène: You suffered from a hip injury in the fall. Are you fully recovered now?

Kimmy: Yes, I am. I had some back pain in Kaunas, but nothing serious. It's just something that happens occasionally when I'm stressed.

Solène: The Swiss National Championship seemed like a significant competition for you, like a comeback. Can you tell me about that experience?

Kimmy: The Swiss Nationals were crucial for me, particularly as preparation for the Europeans. I was pleased with my performance there, especially considering I had only two and a half weeks to prepare. It wasn't perfect, but I was very satisfied with both of my performances.

Solène: Do you have any competition planned before the World Championships?

Kimmy: No, I'll perform in Art on Ice for two weeks. With six weeks of training after Art on Ice, the timing will be perfect for optimal preparation for Worlds.

Solène: Do you have any specific goals for the World Championships?

Kimmy: I aim to be in the top ten again and achieve the best placement possible.

Solène: You are skating your short program to a French song, Voilà, by Barbara Pravi. Were you familiar with this song before you decided to skate to it?

Kimmy: I had heard it before while watching the Nationals, where my little sister competed. It was the first time I listened to the song, when a skater in my sister's category used it for her routine. Initially, I hadn't considered it for my program. However, David Wilson suggested this song, and I immediately loved the idea. Interestingly, we were already in Toronto and hadn't finalized our music choice. So it was a very last-minute decision, but I like the program and how it turned out.

Solène: Do you understand the lyrics of the song? I believe you understand French.

Kimmy: Yes, I understand French but don't grasp all the lyrics. That's why, when we were in Toronto, David took every line of the song and translated it into English, so he and I could fully comprehend its meaning. It helped us tailor the movements and expressions to match what was said in the song.

Solène: Who do you look up to in figure skating ?

Kimmy: My favorites have always been Carolina Kostner, Yuzuru Hanyu, and Yuna Kim, but I'm also deeply inspired by Loena Hendrickx. Not only is she an incredible skater, but her journey resonates with me, especially her challenges transitioning to seniors with injuries and the difficulty of securing ice time in Belgium. My situation feels similar, so I empathize with her. Even though I aim to win or be on the podium, I am genuinely happy for her success. She deserves it and is truly a role model for me.

Solène: So, are you saying you've also had issues with ice availability?

Kimmy: Yes, we used to have many problems with ice time. It's better now because we have training sessions early in the morning, around 6:00 when the ice is in good condition. However, I remember when I had to practice triple jumps with about 40 other people on the ice. At some point, we even used an ice rink that wasn't flat—it was built on a hill! Thankfully, we've had access to good ice twice a day for the past few years. But during vacations, it's still tough. The ice rink where I train often closes. For instance, last year, before the Junior Worlds, we had to wake up at around 4:30 in the morning and travel to different rinks across Switzerland. Sometimes, these rinks were overcrowded, which made preparation difficult. Despite these challenges, I managed to perform very well at the Junior Worlds.

Solène: 4:30am ! Are you a morning person?

Kimmy: No, not at all! I prefer skating in the evening, particularly during competitions. I feel like I have so much more energy then. I feel more alert and dynamic.

Solène: You are nominated for the ISU Awards, in the “newcomer” category, for skaters who make a successful debut on the senior circuit. What do you think about it?

Kimmy: I’m thrilled to be nominated. I don't expect to win, especially considering Nina Pinzarrone's incredible season. She truly deserves the newcomer award. But just being nominated was a significant moment for me. It brought attention to Swiss figure skating, which I'm proud of. Lukas Britschgi and I won medals at the European championships last year, which hadn't been seen since the days of Sarah Meier and Stephane Lambiel. It's a real honor to be recognized in this way.

Solène: I enjoyed one of your Instagram posts (Si apre in una nuova finestra) about the moves you can't do on the ice : hydroblading, spins and jumps the other way around.

Kimmy: I just thought it would be fun to share something like that. It's funny because some movements are seemingly simple, but I never learned to do them. I might improve if I practiced them daily, but I don't have the time for that. It's interesting how some skaters can do these things effortlessly, and I can't. So, I thought it would be amusing to share that with my followers.

Solène MATHIEU - Patinage Magazine