Winter Olympics 2026: Exquisite Miura Riku and Kihara Ryuichi capture Japan’s first-ever Olympic title in pairs figure skating
On February 16, Miura Riku and Kihara Ryuichi captured the hearts of fans worldwide, becoming the first pair to secure an Olympic title in pairs figure skating for Japan. Despite entering the competition under pressure, having placed fifth after their challenging short program, these reigning world champions rose spectacularly to triumph.
With a stunning performance that exhibited both technical prowess and artistic flair, Miura and Kihara delivered a career-best score of 158.13, culminating in a total score of 231.24. As the final scores illuminated the Milano Ice Skating Arena, disbelief turned to elation when the duo jump to their feet, celebrating their historic achievement amid an enthusiastic standing ovation.
Not only did this mark a glorious moment for Miura and Kihara, but it also represented a significant milestone for Japanese figure skating. Their victory is the first gold for Japan in any figure skating discipline since the renowned Hanyu Yuzuru clinched his second consecutive Olympic title in 2018, reinforcing Japan’s prowess in the sport.
Finland’s European champions, Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava, achieved their nation’s first-ever Olympic medal, seizing the silver with a commendable score of 221.75. Meanwhile, short program frontrunners Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin of Germany earned the bronze medal with a score of 219.09.
This win adds to Miura and Kihara’s incredible resume, having already contributed to Japan’s team event silver earlier in the Games. With three Olympic medals now adorning their journey, they mirror the progression showcased in the previous Winter Games at Beijing 2022.
Finishing out a thrilling top five, Hungary’s Maria Pavlova and Alexei Sviatchenko secured fourth place with a respectable score of 215.26. Reigning Olympic champions Sui Wenjing and Han Cong settled for fifth at 208.64, demonstrating the competitiveness of pairs skating on the Olympic stage.
The excitement continues as updates from the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 unfold. More exhilarating performances are on the horizon!
