Kimmy Repond is competing in her first event of the season at the European Championships in Sheffield. She has been through an ordeal of months of pain and incorrect diagnoses.
14.01.2026, 05:00
SDA
In mid-November, Kimmy Repond's emotional situation is quite different: Her Olympic dream was in danger of being dashed. An operation on her left foot seemed unavoidable. The 19-year-old from Basel had previously consulted numerous specialists, but she received different diagnoses - no one knew exactly what was causing the pain.
Repond suspects that the cause was a necessary change of skate in November 2024, which she normally breaks in until it is a little softer. But because the Swiss Championships were taking place shortly afterwards, she immediately started jumping. It hurts a little, but it's bearable. She becomes Swiss champion for the second time in a row, just misses out on a medal in fourth place at the European Championships and ends the season in 12th place at the World Championships.
Ups and downs
Immediately after the World Championships, the pain increases dramatically. Repond goes on vacation to Mexico and hopes that things will be better afterwards. But when she starts jumping again, the problems return. From then on, it was ups and downs, but the pain never completely disappeared. "At first, I couldn't do the flip and the Lutz anymore," Repond tells the Keystone-SDA news agency. Then came the Rittberger. Later, it hurt with every landing. "So it got worse and worse. I tried to keep myself in shape as much as possible and always train somehow, going to the gym several times a day."
She practiced everything she could on the ice until nothing worked. "That was in September, October," recalls the 2023 European Championship bronze medallist. "I tried everything I could, but no treatment worked. I'm an optimistic person, but it was an extremely difficult time. Firstly, it made me extremely sad that I couldn't compete. And then, of course, the Olympic Games, which are taking place this year. I also asked myself whether I would ever be able to jump again."
Correct diagnosis at last
Repond already knows what she wants to do after the end of her career, namely study medicine. At the moment, however, that would be a must for her, "because figure skating is what I love." That's why she continues to look for solutions. And the day before the planned operation, the correct diagnosis is finally made - no surgery is necessary. "The problem wasn't in the bone or tendon, as we first thought, but in a different place. And everything was extremely inflamed," says Repond. She receives a cortisone injection - "in the right place this time."
After that, no more injections were necessary and physiotherapy was all she needed. Repond has been back in full training for a month now. Although there is not much time left until the European Championships - the short program takes place on Wednesday - preparations are going well. "I didn't think that the jumps would work again so quickly." However, she is not yet at the same level as in March (at the World Championships), says Repond. She finished school in 2023 and has been a professional ever since.
Considers top 6 at the European Championships realistic
Nevertheless, the return to normal training is not easy, as she is going from zero to 100, so to speak. She also has to change her brand of skates. Everything hurts. "The bones in my feet became extremely inflamed and I had to take antibiotics. But it's been better for about a week now. I don't have any pain at the moment," says Repond on Sunday, the day of her departure for Sheffield. She is proud of the fact that she never lets herself go and always keeps at it.
Despite the difficult time, she considers a top 6 finish at the European Championships to be realistic. However, Repond does not want to put too much pressure on herself and primarily wants to present two clean performances. In the short program to oriental music, she shows a new side: "It took some effort at the beginning to skate in a new style in the Olympic season. "But I really like the program and I'm really looking forward to performing it. The free skate is more classic."
Repond hopes to be back in top form at the Olympic Games. In Milan, she is aiming to break into the top 8 and win a diploma. Then all the exertions would definitely have been worth it.
