Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara: “Last season, it wasn’t exactly a failure, but the way we handled things mentally has really improved this season. Now even if things don’t go well in competition, it doesn’t mean the path we’ve taken will fall apart.”
Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara claimed victory at their firest Grand prix event in France, making an excellent start to their season.
original source: number.bunshun.jp dd. October 25th 2025 by Takaomi Matsubara
Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara started the Olympic season strong with a Grand Prix win in France, reflecting on improved preparation, health, and mindset as they set their sights on the Milan-Cortina Olympics. Here’s a translation of their comments posted on Sports Graphic Number Web.
At the press conference after the Grand Prix de France, Kihara was asked about having now won Grand Prix events in four different countries, with only two left to go. He replied:
“As athletes, we want to aim for victories in every country, so we’ll keep working hard. I’ll take care of my body, and with Riku-chan pushing me on, I want us to win every event.”
They won their season opener, the Kinoshita Group Cup in early September, with 222.94 points, followed by a second-place finish at the Nebelhorn Trophy later that month with 221.03 points, and then this Grand Prix win. Compared to last season, this year’s results show a clear improvement in their base level.
There are two main reasons for this. The first is their physical condition. Two seasons ago, Kihara suffered from lumbar spondylolysis, forcing them to withdraw from both Grand Prix events. Last season, both Kihara and Miura faced periods of physical uncertainty and struggled.
But this season, in contrast to the previous two, they have been able to train consistently, which has led to their improved base scores. At the Kinoshita Group Cup, Miura commented:
“This season, we were able to prepare really early, so I can perform with confidence.”
Because their condition has been good, maintaining it has become a key focus. After their win in France, Kihara said, “I give it 120 points because we didn’t get injured.”
The second factor is their mental approach. Last season, they were driven by a strong desire to make up for the previous year, which sometimes led to internal struggles at each competition. For example, at last December’s Grand Prix Final, they finished second and made the podium, but Kihara expressed frustration with their error-filled free skate, saying, “To be honest, the content was not at a level worth discussing.” At the Japanese Nationals later that month, he said in a subdued tone, “We can do it in practice, but not in the actual performance.”
Learning from those experiences, they returned to the basics of “enjoying skating,” which led them to victory at the World Championships. This season, they have been especially mindful of their mindset. At the Kinoshita Group Cup, Kihara said:
“Even if things don’t go well in competition, it doesn’t mean the path we’ve taken will fall apart. That’s my mentality. If things don’t go well, I just think, ‘Let’s do better next time,’ and I’ve had that attitude since the first event.”
Miura added, “Last season, it wasn’t exactly a failure, but the way we handled things mentally has really improved this season.”
Their smooth progress this season also extends to their strategy. Kihara explained: “This season, we intentionally scheduled more competitions in Europe.”
They have been experimenting with ways to adjust to the time difference between their base in Canada and Europe, all with an eye on the Milan-Cortina Olympics. They also chose Skate America as their second Grand Prix event instead of the NHK Trophy, since the Grand Prix Final will be held in Nagoya, making it easier to manage their schedule without returning to Japan twice.
Related topics: Riku Miura Ryuichi Kihara
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