It's a rebirth. After hitting the bottom, it flies again above the ice. As if animated by an inner fire. Returning from a deep burn-out at the end of last season, Kévin Aymoz hopes to continue his return to form during the Grand Prix final, which opens Thursday December 5 at his home in Grenoble.
The only French representative in the men's category after the withdrawal of Adam Siao Him Fa due to injury, the Isérois qualified for the big global end-of-year meeting thanks to a strong first part of the season. level, with two second places in Grand Prix, first at Skate America at the end of October then in Finland a month later.
“I am in this program myself”
After a Bolero of Ravel full of enthusiasm last year, it is a free program inspired by Vincent Van Gogh that Aymoz presents this season. “It was such a difficult exercise to find a new program after the Bolero, he declared after his second place in Texas. I heard so many good things about this program, so there were a lot of expectations for the new choreography. »
“I just took music that I liked and tried to create something that allowed me to show my emotions and tell my story, he continued. I'm truly myself in this program and I'm proud of it because it's completely me. »
“Save me as a human”
At 27, Aymoz has had a particularly convincing autumn which contrasts with his final outing last season. On the ice of the ice rink in Kaunas (Lithuania) during the European Championships in January, the Frenchman had sunk, seeming to completely give up. A resigned attitude which had earned him the 31ste and penultimate place in the competition. He then ended his season prematurely.
“Last year, I burned out, he recently confided in an interview with France Blue. I burned myself out, I had too much pressure on my shoulders. So, I preferred to step back. Already to save me, as a human, and because I really needed that. Then, the call of skating was a bit of a second wind. I needed the ice cream. So I quickly went back to training, and here I am again! »
“It’s a comeback”
But before returning to the forefront, the five-time French champion admitted to having gone through dark and painful moments. “For me, it’s a comeback. When I woke up the day after the European Championships, I was sad that I hadn't died in my sleep, he declared, with tears in his eyes, last October on American television. Life isn't supposed to work like that. »
Upon his return to the international scene, Aymoz admitted to having ” fear “ : “I saw myself again last year when I burned out, and then I said “No, not today.” And everything changed in a second. »
Shine at home
In Grenoble, the native of Échirolles will skate on ice that he knows by heart, the same one where he put on his first skates at the age of 5. To shine at home, however, he will have to compete against formidable opponents, like world champion Ilia Malinin or even the Japanese Kagiyama Yuma, who have both won two Grands Prix this season.
France will also be represented in ice dancing with the pair composed of Evgeniia Lopareva and Geoffrey Brissaud. The Tricolores, who are participating in the first Grand Prix final of their career, will have a lot to do to take over from Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron, now retired from the ice rinks.
Thursday December 5, on Eurosport 2, short programs for couples (7:45 p.m.) and women (8:45 p.m.).
