Ryuichi Kihara: “Four years ago, I was the one carrying us. But this time, she’s been the one pulling me through and supporting me. After the short program, I honestly thought, ‘It’s all over.’ But Riku’s strength helped me come back.”
Japanese figure skating pair Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara made a dramatic comeback to secure gold at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Overcoming
original source: news.yahoo.co.jp dd. 17th January 2026 / news.yahoo.co.jp dd. 17th January 2026
Japanese pair skaters Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara performed a record-breaking free skate to claim gold at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. After their victory, they expressed deep gratitude for their partnership and the journey that led to their success. Here’s a translation of their comments.
After their disappointing short program placement, the pair set their sights on redemption. When they executed their free skate to clinch victory, Miura appeared stunned with disbelief, while Kihara collapsed in tears. After congratulating their competitors, Kihara sat on the ground, overwhelmed with emotions as he wept uncontrollably. Miura comforted him, gently patting his back while teasing, “You’ve been crying this whole time, honestly!”
After the competition, the team opened up about what had happened following the short program. Kihara shared that he had been “crying continuously” due to their unexpected placement. However, it was Miura’s unwavering support that lifted him. “Ryuichi kept crying,” Miura said. “He’s always the one who leads and supports me, but this time, I had to be the older sister figure,” she added proudly.
Kihara reflected on how their dynamic has shifted over the past four years, saying, “Four years ago, I was the one carrying us. But this time, she’s been the one pulling me through and supporting me. After the short program, I honestly thought, ‘It’s all over.’ But Riku’s strength and determination helped me come back. I’m so glad we didn’t give up.”
After the awards ceremony, Miura, with the gold medal around her neck, was still processing the achievement. “It hasn’t really sunk in yet. Being able to recover from yesterday’s mistake and showcase our strength makes me very happy,” she said.
Formed in 2019, the duo previously finished seventh in the 2022 Beijing Olympics. Looking back on their journey, Miura expressed gratitude, saying, “So many people have said to me, ‘Meeting Ryuichi was a miracle.’ I am deeply thankful to everyone for that.” She smiled at her partner as she spoke.
Kihara added, “I was at the point of retiring when she reached out to me. If it weren’t for that, this partnership and two Olympic appearances together wouldn’t have happened. I can only be grateful.”
Related topics: Olympic Games, Riku Miura Ryuichi Kihara
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