Kimmy Repond

Kimmy Repond
Full nameKimmy Vivienne Repond
Born (2006-10-18) 18 October 2006 (age 18)
Basel, Switzerland
Height1.74 m (5 ft 8+12 in)
Figure skating career
Country Switzerland
CoachJérômie Repond
Michael Huth
Skating clubECB Basel
Medal record
European Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2023 Espoo Singles
Swiss Championships
Gold medal – first place 2024 Küsnacht Singles
Gold medal – first place 2025 Geneva Singles
Silver medal – second place 2023 Chur Singles

Kimmy Vivienne Repond (born 18 October 2006) is a Swiss figure skater. She is the 2023 European bronze medalist, a four-time ISU Challenger Series medalist, and a two-time Swiss national champion.

Repond finished seventh at both the 2022 and 2023 World Junior Championships, and is a two-time (2020, 2022) Swiss junior national champion.

Personal life

Repond was born on 18 October 2006 in Basel, Switzerland, to father René, a management consultant, and mother Claudia, a lawyer.[1] She has three sisters – Sidonie, Jérômie, and Caline – all of whom have competed in figure skating.[2] She plans to pursue a career in medicine once she retires from competitive skating.[3] Repond attended a British school in Switzerland, which she graduated from in 2023, and speaks fluent German and English.[4]

Career

2021–22 season: International junior debut

Repond made her international and ISU Junior Grand Prix debut at the 2021 JGP Slovakia in September, coached by her older sister Jérômie. She finished eighth in both segments to place eighth overall[5] and did not receive a second assignment. She competed at three more international junior B events in the fall, taking the title at both the 2021 Trophée Métropole Nice[6] and the 2021 NRW Trophy,[7] and placing second at the 2021 Santa Claus Cup behind Nina Pinzarrone of Belgium.[8]

Repond claimed her second Swiss junior national title in late January 2022 by a 27-point margin over second-place finisher Sarina Joos and was later assigned to the Swiss women's berth at the 2022 World Junior Championships. At Junior Worlds, held in Tallinn, Estonia, in April, Repond placed eighth in the short program and seventh in the free skate to finish seventh overall.[9] She was the highest-finishing European junior woman in the event.[10]

2022–23 season: International senior debut and European bronze

Repond opened her season in early September at the 2022 JGP Austria, where she placed fourth in the short program. She dropped to sixth in the free skate to finish sixth overall. At her second JGP assignment, the 2022 JGP Poland I, one of two events held in Gdańsk, Repond placed seventh in the short program. However, with a clean skate and a new personal best in the free program, she climbed in the standings to fourth place in the segment and fourth overall, her best finish at a JGP event to date.[11]

In October, Repond competed at her first senior international event, the 2022 CS Budapest Trophy. She won the short program with a new personal best score but fell to third place in the free skate to ultimately finish second overall between American gold medalist Ava Marie Ziegler and Estonian bronze medalist Niina Petrõkina. Notably, Repond led domestic rival Alexia Paganini by over six points after the short program, but Paganini later withdrew before the free.[11]

Repond competed at a second Challenger Series assignment, the 2022 CS Ice Challenge held in Graz, Austria in November. Doctors discovered a partial fracture in her foot days before the competition but she still decided to skate to qualify for the European Championships. She placed ninth in the short program after falling on a planned triple Lutz but rose to second in the free skate to place third overall behind Italian Anna Pezzetta and Canada's Kaiya Ruiter. After the competition, she took a 3-week break to let her foot heal. Due to this, she missed two international competitions.[12]

Repond competed at her first senior Swiss Figure Skating Championships in mid-December. With reigning national champion Alexia Paganini absent, Repond was heavily favored to win the title. However, she got back on the ice just two weeks before nationals and placed third in the short program and first in the free skate to narrowly finish in second place behind Livia Kaiser.[13] Repond was later named to the Swiss team for the 2023 European Championships alongside Kaiser.

At the European Championships, held in Espoo in late January, Repond placed third in the short program despite a quarter call on her triple Lutz jump, behind Georgian segment leader Anastasiia Gubanova and pre-event favourite Loena Hendrickx of Belgium.[14] She noted that having "been dreaming about going" to the European championships, she had "tried not to have any expectations," which mean that "third place is a really big thing for me, and I am really happy."[15] She was second in the free skate after Hendrickx fell twice, remaining third overall by a margin of only 0.97 points and winning the bronze medal. Her placement marked the first podium finish for a Swiss women's singles skater at the European Championships since Sarah Meier won the title in 2011.[16][17]

Repond was next assigned to the 2023 World Junior Championships in Calgary, where she aimed to finish in the top eight and thereby qualify a Swiss berth at the 2024 Winter Youth Olympics.[4] Tenth in the short program with underrotation calls on her jumps, she rallied in the free skate and rose to seventh overall.[18] Repond ultimately finished eighth at her first senior World Championships.[19]

2023–2024 season

Repond performing an Ina Bauer during her free skate at the 2023 Grand Prix de France

Repond began her her second senior season at the 2023 CS Nebelhorn Trophy in September. She placed third in the short program despite a fall on her solo triple lutz, and later rose to first in the free skate to finish second overall behind Isabeau Levito.[11] Following this, she was invited to participate in the 2023 Japan Open as part of Team Europe. She finished fifth of six women in the free skate, while the team won the bronze medal.[20]

Repond made her Grand Prix debut at the 2023 Grand Prix de France, held in Angers in early November. She struggled at the event, falling on both her solo triple flip and her triple Lutz-triple toe loop combination in the short program, and making another series of jump errors in the free skate, leading to a tenth-place finish overall.[21] The skater later revealed that she'd been contending with an injury she sustained at the Nebelhorn Trophy in September and that she would not compete at her second Grand Prix assignment, the 2023 Grand Prix of Espoo, opting to instead take time to heal in anticipation of the championship events in the new year.[22]

Repond during the gala at the 2024 World Championships

At the 2024 national championships, Repond captured the Swiss title for the first time.[11] She finished seventh at the 2024 European Championships, and said afterward she felt "a bit disappointed," speculating that she had nerve issues due to limited training time while recovering from her hip problem.[23]

Repond finished the season at the 2024 World Championships in Montreal. In the short program, she came twelfth in the segment after falling on a triple Lutz jump. She rebounded in the free skate, coming fourth in that segment with a personal best 133.38 point score. This lifted her to fifth overall. Repond expressed enthusiasm at her results, saying: "Finally, I could show what I am capable of. Except for the mistake yesterday, I had a good competition I am really happy with."[24]

In June, Repond announced that she had relocated to Oberstdorf, Germany to train under Michael Huth while simultaneously continuing to be coached by her sister, Jérômie, in Basel.[25]

2024–2025 season

Repond performing her short program at 2024 Skate Canada International
Repond performing a catch-foot camel spin during her free skate at 2024 Skate Canada International

Repond started the season by competing on the 2024–25 ISU Challenger Series, finishing sixth at the 2024 CS Nebelhorn Trophy and winning silver at the 2024 CS Budapest Trophy.[11] Going on to compete on the 2024–25 Grand Prix circuit, Repond would place third in the short program at 2024 Skate Canada International but fifth in the free skate, falling to fourth place overall. Due to the event being a close competition, Repond finished only 0.30 points behind bronze medalist Hana Yoshida. Following the competition, Repond said she was overall "still really happy with what I did at this competition. And we did two good performances. One was perfect and one was okay. But it was also pretty good. But, you know, I wanted to medal, so I'm a little bit disappointed being third after the short program."[26]

Shortly before her second Grand Prix event, the 2024 Cup of China, one of Repond's skating boots broke, though she was able to compete by taping it. She was sixth in the short program and fifth in the free skate and finished in sixth place overall. Repond said that she was "really happy with how I did today, but I know I can do a bit better".[27]

In mid-December, Repond would win her second national title at the 2025 Swiss Championships.[28]

Programs

Season Short program Free skating Exhibition
2024–2025
[29][30][31]
  • Woman (Instrumental)
    by Luke Muzzic
    choreo. by David Wilson

2023–2024
[32]
  • Freya
    by Christian Reindl & Lucie Paradis
  • Dawn of Faith
    by Eternal Eclipse
    choreo. by David Wilson

Star Wars

2022–2023
[33][4]

Wednesday


2021–2022
[34]

Competitive highlights

Competition placements at senior level [28]
Season 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25
World Championships 8th 5th
European Championships 3rd 7th TBD
Swiss Championships 2nd 1st 1st
GP Cup of China 6th
GP France 10th
GP Skate Canada 4th
CS Budapest Trophy 2nd 2nd
CS Ice Challenge 3rd
CS Nebelhorn Trophy 2nd 6th
Japan Open 3rd
(5th)
Competition placements at junior level [28]
Season 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23
World Junior Championships 7th 7th
Swiss Championships 1st 1st
JGP Latvia 6th
JGP Poland 4th
JGP Slovakia 8th
NRW Trophy 1st 1st
Santa Claus Cup 2nd
Sofia Trophy 2nd
Trophée Métropole Nice 1st

Detailed results

ISU personal best scores in the +5/-5 GOE System [28]
Segment Type Score Event
Total TSS 196.02 2024 World Championships
Short program TSS 67.71 2024 Cup of China
TES 35.84 2024 Cup of China
PCS 31.87 2024 Cup of China
Free skating TSS 133.38 2024 World Championships
TES 70.15 2024 World Championships
PCS 64.08 2023 CS Nebelhorn Trophy

Senior level

ISU personal bests highlighted in bold. Small medals for short and free programs awarded only at ISU Championships.

2024–25 season
Date Event SP FS Total
December 13–15, 2024 2025 Swiss Championships 1
64.02
1
133.36
1
197.38
November 22–24, 2024 2024 Cup of China 6
67.71
5
128.20
6
195.91
25–27 October 2024 2024 Skate Canada International 3
66.94
5
124.13
4
191.07
11–13 October 2024 2024 CS Budapest Trophy 3
66.04
1
124.05
2
190.09
19–21 September 2024 2024 CS Nebelhorn Trophy 10
53.45
6
118.87
6
172.32
2023–2024 season
Date Event SP FS Total
18–24 March 2024 2024 World Championships 12
62.64
4
133.38
5
196.02
10–14 January 2024 2024 European Championships 8
60.34
7
120.48
7
180.82
15–17 December 2023 2024 Swiss Championships 1
64.80
1
122.66
1
187.46
3–5 November 2023 2023 Grand Prix de France 10
50.64
9
113.99
10
164.63
7 October 2023 2023 Japan Open 5
122.63
3T
20–23 September 2023 2023 CS Nebelhorn Trophy 3
61.55
1
130.39
2
191.94
2022–23 season
Date Event SP FS Total
22–26 March 2023 2023 World Championships 13
62.75
8
131.34
8
194.09
25–29 January 2023 2023 European Championships 3
63.83
2
128.68
3
192.51
16–17 December 2022 2023 Swiss Championships 3
58.51
1
116.62
2
175.13
9–13 November 2022 2022 CS Ice Challenge 9
53.22
2
116.13
3
169.35
14–16 October 2022 2022 CS Budapest Trophy 1
60.86
3
116.88
2
177.74

Junior level

2022–23 season
Date Event SP FS Total
27 February–5 March 2023 2023 World Junior Championships 10
57.96
6
122.36
7
180.32
28 September– 1 October 2022 2022 JGP Poland I 7
59.39
4
121.06
4
180.45
7–10 September 2022 2022 JGP Latvia 4
58.88
6
110.08
6
168.96
2021–22 season
13–17 April 2022 2022 World Junior Championships 8
60.82
7
116.28
7
177.10
22–23 January 2022 2022 Swiss Junior Championships 1
59.77
1
117.52
1
177.29
6–12 December 2021 2021 Santa Claus Cup 5
57.67
1
113.12
2
170.79
4–7 November 2021 2021 NRW Trophy 2
54.05
1
104.68
1
158.73
20–24 October 2021 2021 Trophée Métropole Nice 1
55.70
1
108.11
1
163.81
1–4 September 2021 2021 JGP Slovakia 8
51.97
8
103.09
8
155.06
2020–21 season
26 Feb. – 3 Mar. 2021 2021 Sofia Trophy 2
63.00
2
120.69
2
183.69
26–29 November 2020 2020 NRW Trophy 1
58.16
1
111.46
1
169.62
2019–20 season
1–2 February 2020 2020 Swiss Junior Championships 2
56.78
1
109.34
1
166.12

References

  1. ^ van Berkel, Sarah (July 20, 2021). "In musik, sport und business Diese Teenies starten durch" [In music, sports, and business these teens hit the ground running] (in German). Schweizer Illustrierte.
  2. ^ Galli, Jean Claude (February 2, 2020). "Kimmy ist die neue Eisprinzessin" [Kimmy is the new ice princess] (in German). Blick.
  3. ^ "Kimmy Repond".
  4. ^ a b c Flade, Tatjana (February 22, 2023). "Kimmy Repond bursts onto senior scene". Golden Skate.
  5. ^ "ISU Junior Grand Prix Košice 2021 Junior Women Results". International Skating Union. September 4, 2021.
  6. ^ "2021 Trophée Métropole Nice Côte d'Azur Junior Womens Final Results". SkatingScores.com.
  7. ^ "NRW Trophy 2021 Junior Women Result". German Ice Skating Union. November 7, 2021.
  8. ^ "2021 Santa Claus Cup Junior Womens Final Results". SkatingScores.com.
  9. ^ Slater, Paula (April 17, 2022). "USA's Isabeau Levito skates to gold in Tallinn". Golden Skate.
  10. ^ "Sport in der Region: Die Starwings sind chancenlos" [Sports in the Region: The Starwings don't stand a chance] (in German). Basler Zeitung.
  11. ^ a b c d e "Kimmy REPOND: Competition Results". International Skating Union. April 19, 2022.
  12. ^ "16-jährige Kimmy Repond schafft Bronze-Coup". Swissinfo. 28 January 2023. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  13. ^ Langer, Isabel (30 January 2023). "Basler Eiskunstläuferin Kimmy Repond nach dem Gewinn von EM-Bronze". bzbasel. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  14. ^ Slater, Paula (January 26, 2023). "Anastasiia Gubanova leads women at Europeans". Golden Skate.
  15. ^ "Anastasiia Gubanova (GEO) grabs lead from top favorite in Women's Short Program in Espoo". International Skating Union. January 26, 2023.
  16. ^ Slater, Paula (January 28, 2023). "Anastasiia Gubanova wins historic gold at 2023 Europeans". Golden Skate.
  17. ^ "Georgia is Golden for the European Championships with top medal for Anastasiia Gubanova". International Skating Union. January 26, 2023.
  18. ^ Slater, Paula (March 4, 2023). "Mao Shimada impresses in Calgary; takes Junior World title". Golden Skate.
  19. ^ Slater, Paula (March 24, 2023). "Kaori Sakamoto defends World title". Golden Skate.
  20. ^ "Japan Open 2023: Team Japan triumphs in Saitama after Sakamoto Kaori and Ilia Malinin secure individual wins - full results". Olympic Channel. October 7, 2023. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  21. ^ Slater, Paula (November 4, 2023). "Levito secures first Grand Prix title in France". Golden Skate. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  22. ^ @kimmy_repond (November 6, 2023). "I am very sad to announce that I will withdraw from GP Finnland". Archived from the original on November 7, 2023 – via Instagram.
  23. ^ Slater, Paula (January 13, 2024). "Hendrickx finally clinches gold at Europeans". Golden Skate. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  24. ^ Slater, Paula (March 23, 2024). "Kaori Sakamoto takes third consecutive World title". Golden Skate. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  25. ^ Repond, Kimmy. "Coaching Change". Instagram. Instagram. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  26. ^ Slater, Paula (October 27, 2024). "Sakamoto leads Japanese women in winning streak in Halifax". Golden Skate. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
  27. ^ Slater, Paula (2024-11-24). "Amber Glenn nabs second consecutive Grand Prix gold in China". Golden Skate. Retrieved 2024-11-24.
  28. ^ a b c d "SUI–Kimmy Repond". SkatingScores.
  29. ^ "Kimmy REPOND: 2024/2025". International Skating Union. August 25, 2024. Archived from the original on August 22, 2024.
  30. ^ Repond, Kimmy. "Programs". Instagram. Instagram. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  31. ^ Repond, Kimmy. "2024/25 Free Program". Instagram. Instagram. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  32. ^ "Kimmy REPOND: 2023/2024". International Skating Union. August 25, 2024. Archived from the original on July 16, 2024.
  33. ^ "Kimmy REPOND: 2022/2023". International Skating Union. August 25, 2024. Archived from the original on April 10, 2023.
  34. ^ "Kimmy REPOND: 2021/2022". International Skating Union. April 19, 2022. Archived from the original on March 8, 2022.