“It’s not good to get too tense. For us, it’s important not to focus too much, so enjoying ourselves in moderation is key.” Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara spent their first official practice at the Olympic ice
Japanese pair skaters Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara (“RikuRyu”) began their official practice at the Milano Ice Skating Arena, confidently preparing for the Olympics and aiming for Japan’s first Olympic pair medal.
original source: news.yahoo.co.jp dd. 3d January 2026
On February 2, Riku Miura (24) and Ryuichi Kihara (33), took to their first official practice at the Milano Ice Skating Arena, the venue for the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics. The pair, who have their sights set on winning Japan’s first-ever Olympic medal in pairs figure skating, appeared relaxed as they completed their initial adjustments. Here’s a translation of their comments.
“It’s not good to get too tense. For us, it’s important not to focus too much, so enjoying ourselves in moderation is key,” Kihara said with a relaxed expression. Their first practice lasted about 30 minutes, with the rink reserved just for them, allowing for a light adjustment. They played music to check the flow of their performance, and Kihara commented, “The feel of the ice was excellent. We were able to check things like the atmosphere and lighting – things you can only do when you’re the only pair on the ice. It was a good session.”
At the last competition before the Olympics, the Japanese Nationals short program in late December, Miura dislocated her left shoulder and had to withdraw from the free skate, leaving some uncertainty before the big stage. Since then, she has revised her training methods based on detailed hospital examinations to prevent recurrence. Miura described her recovery in her own unique way: “It’s like, ‘Hmph!’ with the muscles around the joint.” Kihara quickly added, “We reviewed everything in detail according to her symptoms.” Miura, laughing, said, “I sound like someone who’s been injured,” but confidently declared, “I can practice without any worries. My shoulder is the strongest it’s ever been since the injury.”
The pair formed in 2019 and have since won the World Championships in 2023 and 2025, as well as this season’s Grand Prix (GP) Final, entering the Olympics as strong gold medal contenders. Miura expressed her confidence: “After these seven years, we’re in the best condition now. I’m looking forward to the competition.” For Kihara, who is attending his fourth Olympics, he emphasized, “I feel well-prepared. I want to approach the Olympics with confidence, without treating it as something special.”
Related topics: Olympic Games, Riku Miura Ryuichi Kihara
Leave a Reply