Kimmy Repond Makes Olympic Cut After Comeback, Swiss Duo Advance to Free Skate
Kimmy Repond returned to the ice and achieved a key milestone, finishing 21st in the short program with 59. 20 points to make the cut for the free skate. Her advancement, alongside teammate Livia Kaiser, marks the first time since 1984 that two Swiss women are represented in the singles event.
Kimmy Repond: comeback, short program score and Olympic berth
Kimmy Repond skated a solid short program, earning 59. 20 points—only slightly below her short program mark at the European Championships in January, when she recorded 59. 28 points. That return followed an eight-month injury break caused by ongoing foot problems; she only made her comeback at the European Championships in January. Repond's best short program score remains 68. 68 points from last year's European Championships, a benchmark that underscores the gap between her current outing and peak performances.
Her short program placement of 21st ensured she will compete in the free skate on Thursday (ET) as one of the top 24 skaters. The move completes a challenging passage back into major international competition and keeps her Olympic dream alive despite the earlier uncertainty surrounding her health and training.
Swiss pair advances as Kaiser battles through errors
Livia Kaiser joined Repond in advancing, taking 23rd place after the short program with 55. 69 points. Kaiser suffered deductions after a fall and remained below her best short program of 66. 31 points achieved at the 2024 European Championships, yet she still made the cut for the free skate. With Repond 21st and Kaiser 23rd, Switzerland has two women in the singles for the first time since Sandra Cariboni and Myriam Oberwiler competed in 1984.
Both skaters faced difficult preparations for their first Olympic appearances. Repond dealt with persistent foot pain that threatened her participation and required a careful diagnosis and rehabilitation before she could return to competition. Kaiser endured a severe training accident a year ago when she slashed her calf, an injury whose effects lingered through her recovery and training.
Heading into the free skate on Thursday (ET), Repond and Kaiser will aim to convert their short program placements into stronger overall results. Repond’s recent comeback and her ability to post a competitive short program score after months away provide a clear development to watch. Kaiser’s recovery and resilience, even with deductions in the short program, also keep the Swiss challenge alive.
The short program leaderboard was topped by a 17-year-old Japanese skater with 78. 71 points, followed by a compatriot on 77. 23 and an American on 76. 59, setting a high standard for the free skate. Repond’s path to improving on her 59. 20 mark will be central to whether she can climb toward a top-10 finish—an objective she has expressed in recent competition build-up—but her immediate achievement is securing a place among the 24 skaters who will skate again on Thursday (ET).
For now, the narrative is clear: Kimmy Repond’s comeback remains on course, and combined with Livia Kaiser’s gritty advance, Switzerland has reclaimed a notable presence in the Olympic women’s singles free skate for the first time in decades.
