Kevin Aymoz earned an impressive fifth place at the World Championships. We caught up with him after his performances.
Skate Info Glace: Tell us about your free program day.
Kevin: It was incredible! I really enjoyed it, but it was also the hardest day of my career. On the morning of the free skate, I woke up in a bad mood because the wait between the two events had been long. When I arrived at the warm-up, I remembered I was in the final group and savored every moment of the day. I felt like a rockstar stepping onto the ice — the noise and the lights were exhilarating. I knew I could let go, that the work of the entire season would show. I had to trust my muscles, my body, my skates. Stop thinking and just go. I had trained hard for five weeks, both off the ice and mentally. I think that if Europeans had gone well, I wouldn't be as strong today. It helped me reset, just like last year when I couldn't go to Worlds. It reminded me that I didn't deserve that 22nd place and that I had to fight for my dreams. I realized I had to enjoy it, that the rink would be on fire, and the crowd would be all in. I seized the opportunity. I worked for that opportunity. It doesn't fall from the sky — you have to go get it. I saw the women fight during their free skates—it was beautiful, and it really gave me a boost. I especially liked seeing Alysa Liu skate like no one was watching, with incredible calm. She has real mental strength, and that inspired me. A funny story: right before the warm-up, when they announced the skaters one by one, they called out Yuma's name, and like an idiot, I started skating to begin the warm-up, and the whole group followed me (laughs). But they still had to announce Ilia, and I had forgotten. I was so eager to skate that I went out too early. I don't know if someone filmed that moment where we're all pacing — we looked like caged animals (laughs). During the warm-up, everything was fluid. My edges were light, and my muscles were super responsive. I felt like a child on the ice, just playing, like when you're little and don't care about anything. During the program, I had an issue with a lace that came undone, which threw off my last two jumps. But that's okay. I fought hard and gave it everything.
Skate Info Glace: No medal, but a strong group finish with Adam, with 4th and 5th places.
Kevin: That's amazing! The medal doesn't matter — I don't care what people will say. I'm proud of the team. I don't know who I am to say that (laughs). I'm proud of Adam. He fought hard, came back from the short program, and climbed to 4th place. Loïcia and Théo, Evgeniia and Geoffrey fought like warriors. Camille and Pavel, unfortunately, didn't make it through qualification, but they gave it their all. Lorine made it into the top 15 — that hasn't happened in a while. Everyone contributed. We've earned Olympic spots for France because we've had a team fighting for four years. That needs to be highlighted. It makes me happy and motivates me, too—it comforts me on bad days to know that there's a team behind me that counts on me, supports me, and lifts me up.
Skate Info Glace: That hug with Adam after your skate was a great moment.
Kevin: It was really a team effort because if one of us had fallen in the rankings, the other needed to make up for it. We both ended up at the top of the standings, and that was the first thing I wanted: for both of us to be in the top 10. For the Olympic spots, of course, but also to leave our mark on the sport. It's been long since two French skaters were in a world top 5. I think it's starting to make some noise out there. With Adam, we were a team and had to stay united. After my skate, all I wanted to know was if he skated well. Before that, I didn't want to look at who was in the leader's chair—I didn't want to put pressure on myself. When I got off the ice and saw it was him, I said, "Yes, we did it; we're here." It was a team accomplishment, and that's what makes it even more beautiful.
Skate Info Glace: It also shows that the relationship between two competitors can be healthy.
Kevin: Yes. It's not complicated with Adam. The only complicated thing is that we both dream of the same thing. In the end, of course, we're competitors, but we're not skating against each other. That's the key. Adam has his strengths, and I have mine. And you can't compare them. We're two completely different skaters with different techniques and different artistic styles. We each have our own world.
Skate Info Glace: Your last two Skate Americas went really well, and so did these World Championships. The US seems to bring you luck.
Kevin: Yes, it's funny. There are countries like that where things just work out. The US works really well for me. I've done four competitions there with very good scores. Japan usually works well for me. The US has a special place in my heart since I trained there for eight years. It's like a second home. I'm going to request Skate America next year. I need to be strategic. At first, I wanted to ask for Skate America and NHK, but NHK has three Japanese skaters, so that's a bit scary. It's always a tough Grand Prix.
Skate Info Glace: How do you organize your training between Grenoble and Switzerland, and between Françoise and Silvia?
Kevin: Since I'm often in Grenoble, Françoise is kind of the main coach, even though we make a great team with good communication with Silvia. She's often on the ice with me and sees me day-to-day. Usually, I'm in Grenoble Monday through Wednesday and alone in Lausanne Thursday and Friday. Then, I have video calls three to four times a week with Silvia, and we send each other videos every day. At the start of the week, the three of us plan how things will go. But I'm really the director of my project. At 27, I think I know what I need and how things work. Training alone in Lausanne at the start of the season was tough. At some point, I told myself: if you want something, go get it. Only you can help yourself get results. My conscience would call me out after training if I hadn't given my all. And I think we always know when a session isn't good enough. That pushed me to do more. When I'm with a coach, they validate a session. When I'm alone, I don't always know if it was enough. So, I invested even more to be sure I'd trained well. Those solo sessions brought me a lot: confidence, motivation, and discipline. I plan to return to the US this summer to build the new programs.
Skate Info Glace: When I mentioned you were one of the best skaters in the world last November, you had a hard time accepting it. Is it easier now, after this fifth place?
Kevin: Not really (laughs). It still feels a bit strange. Thinking that in two nearly back-to-back World Championships I've been in the top 5, plus a Grand Prix Final... Being part of that microcosm of the world's best — it's weird to hear. I still can't believe it. It's strange, like a childhood dream.
Skate Info Glace: Do you think you'll go to Worlds next year, after the Olympics?
Kevin: Of course! I'm signing on for a full season. I don't know what the future holds, but I'm excited about it. I don't think this will be my last season — I think I'll continue at least one or two more years after the Games.
Skate Info Glace: The ISU has nominated you several times for "Most Entertaining Program." That's great recognition from your peers.
Kevin: Those awards are kind of like the Oscars of skating — it's a great initiative. I've been nominated in that category four times over five consecutive years. That's pretty cool, I'm really happy about it. I'd love to win one day (laughs). But being nominated four times out of five — not many skaters have done that, except maybe Madison Chock and Evan Bates, who always get nominated for best costume. It's very rewarding, especially since I entirely choreographed two or three of those programs. I'm a bit sad that ISU didn't select the short program I had at the start of the season. I think changing it made it ineligible. That's a shame because I think it deserved a spot. It really lit up Skate America.
Skate Info Glace: Are you still planning to bring back Boléro as your free skate for the Olympic year?
Kevin: Yes, I want to bring back that program because I didn't get to finish the season with it. At Europeans, I only did the short program; at Nationals, it didn't go well. So it basically ended at the Grand Prix Final, where it was average. In reality, I only really skated it twice. That program deserves a second life. I know a lot of people will say Boléro is overdone. But I love it. That music moves me, and I think it brings something special for an Olympic year. I know I can tweak the program and bring something new to it, and I'm excited about the challenge. I'm going to change the costume a bit. Not the structure, but maybe the stitching or fabric. I want a fresh take because wearing the same costume would feel like reliving the past. I love designing costumes with Astrae. If I could buy costumes all the time, I would (laughs).
Skate Info Glace: Do you have ideas for the short?
Kevin: I have seven or eight pieces in mind. Two really stand out, but they're completely opposite. The real question is: What story do I want to tell this Olympic season? This year, I experienced both a super fun program and a very emotional one. Both worked well. The two pieces I'm considering fit into those styles—one of each. So, I'll take time to reflect and figure out which one speaks to me more.
Skate Info Glace: I heard you mentioned your first quads to another outlet. It reminded me of your first win at Nationals when you beat Chafik Besseghier, who had landed three quads.
Kevin: And I had only done triples! I remember it very well — I threw my medal in the trash. I was very upset because when I came off the ice, many members of the French team at the time — the real seniors — were there. I was still a junior then. They were all looking at Chafik with sympathy, while no one looked at me. I thought they'd welcome me and say I'd done something great, but instead, I felt like I was disturbing things, like I was shaking things up. It was tough to take. That day, I really understood how skating works. It's not just about landing the elements. It has to be done with quality and precision. I had landed two perfect triple Axels, two clean triple Lutzes, a perfect triple-triple, all level 4s, with transitions throughout. The program was really well constructed. Those Nationals taught me a lot.
Skate Info Glace: Did you get the medal back?
Kevin: Yes, my mom fished it out of the trash.
Skate Info Glace: Was that competition what made you want to try quads?
Kevin: No, at the time, I was afraid of going for quads because, technically, I wasn't reliable. The two years after that Nationals were transition years. I was half in Grenoble, half in Annecy. Sometimes in Paris, but I didn't have a coach. I bounced around, working a bit with Katia Krier, then deputy technical director. Without a stable training base, your technique isn't stable either. I lost some time during that period, but it was essential in my development and finding my place. Later, I met John and Silvia and started setting up proper training. Then, during COVID, I reconnected with Françoise, my first coach. She had been to many camps in Russia and other countries to deepen her technical knowledge. With competitions on hold during the pandemic, we rigorously rebuilt my technique for a full year. Since COVID, I feel like my technique has become increasingly solid.
Skate Info Glace: What do you think about Guillaume Cizeron's return to competition?
Kevin: Guillaume is a friend, I'm a huge fan of him and I'll be really happy to see him skate again. Laurence is amazing, too. I'm very happy for them. But I also think of one of my best friends, Loïcia. She worked hard for four years. Sometimes the laws of sport are cruel. It's tough mentally to hear news like that when you've built an Olympic dream. This is a message for Théo and Loïcia: I love you, I support you, keep going. You have immense talent, you work incredibly hard, and you have something special. I'm proud of you and love you with all my heart.
Solène Mathieu - Skate Info Glace
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