She is the new great Swiss figure skating talent

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“Where there’s a will, there’s a way,” Kimmy Repond, who was only 13 at the time, confidently proclaimed on Swiss television. Three years later, the young woman from Basel is there with her first European Championship medal.

At the end of January, she won a sensational bronze medal at the European Championships in Espoo, Finland, following in the footsteps of Sarah van Berkel, who was the last Swiss woman to win an international medal in 2011. From the outside, the road to it was difficult and the will to succeed was always very strong.

Four hours of training a day

“The joy is great. It took me a while to realize it,” says Repond, happy with the medal win. However, long parties are not possible. Two days after winning bronze at the European Championships, training starts again. Get up at 5.20 am, the first training on dry land, later we go on the ice. Then to school at 8.00 o’clock Back on the ice at 12.00 o’clock, later followed by choreo training and fitness. Finally studying for school in the evening. A monster program – but no problem for the ambitious Repond.”If you really love something, it won’t be too much for you. Everything I do, whether it’s competitions or interviews, I really enjoy it.”

They train six days a week and learn at the same time, because the Matura is already on the agenda for next summer. Later she wants to study medicine, even though she will only fully focus on top sport after graduating in the summer. She doesn’t believe that private life or clubbing, as many people her age are slowly discovering, are neglected: “Parties don’t interest me at all. I like to dance, but even if I didn’t figure skate, I wouldn’t go out. If I had a hobby like playing the piano or want to meet friends, that’s fine. It just takes good planning.”

The family helps Repond realize her dream of the 2026 Olympic Games. The father takes care of the sponsorship and the mother takes care of the food. The eldest sister works as a mental trainer, the second eldest sister as a technical trainer, media spokeswoman and travel organizer. The youngest sister (9) has not yet found a job – apart from making Tiktok videos with her seven-year-old sister and training with her.

“She Loves What She Does”

Repond’s ambition is impressive – if not almost frightening. She started figure skating when she was four years old. A diligent athlete who went from talent to star through hard work. “Their physical and mental abilities are what make them so strong. That, combined with her hard work, is probably the best combination you’ve had so far in figure skating in Switzerland,” says European champion Sarah van Berkel. Today’s SRF commentator is convinced that the hard training and huge ambition of Repond will not turn into the unhealthy: “You really feel that it is not just a stubborn ambition. She loves what she does.”

That Repond’s ambition also has limits, is evident from her decision that – contrary to what was recently claimed on Russian channels – she is not aiming for a switch to a Russian top team. About six years ago, Kimmy Repond trained for a few days in Moscow with her sister Jérômie (23). However, this did not lead to further cooperation – because of Russian harshness. “It was unbearable for me,” said Jérômie Repond of the “Tages-Anzeiger”.

She doesn’t mind body criticism

With 16-year-old Kimmy’s success comes the critics. The petite Repond’s appearance is criticized in comments columns or on social media. However, she lets that bounce off her. “I know that some people write such things. However, I eat very well, a lot and healthy. The nutritionist has had nothing to complain about so far. I think it runs in the family »Repond rejects the body criticism. Experts and the union see no problem in the figure either.

Source : Blick