After becoming Japan¡¯s first figure skating pairs gold medalists at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara made a triumphant return to Japan on Wednesday, vowing to continue working together.
Of the 24 medals Japan won, a record for the nation at a Winter Games, the gold for Miura and Kihara was arguably the most memorable.
After a rare mistake by Kihara on a lift in the short program, the popular pair, dubbed Riku-Ryu, recovered to win the gold with a world-record 158.13 points in the free program.
The stirring victory won over the hearts of Japanese fans, including Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who wrote on X, ¡°Watching the performance, it was as if two hearts became one and we were able to feel the trust you had in one another.¡±
Speaking to reporters at a news conference in Tokyo, the two faced a barrage of questions from reporters about their future plans.
The world championships will be held in Prague next month, and everyone wanted to know if a defense of their Olympic gold four years later in France is part of their plans.
Kihara said they haven¡¯t had time to figure out their future competition schedule. Whatever that is, however, Miura vowed it will be together.
¡°I will retire when Kihara retires,¡± the 24-year-old Miura said. ¡°I would never continue with someone else.¡±
Japan first took part in Olympic pairs skating at the 1972 Sapporo Olympics. Since then, there were gold medals in men¡¯s and women¡¯s singles, but this year¡¯s gold in pairs was a first.
Miura and Kihara first started skating together in 2019. Miura had dissolved her previous partnership and was seeking a new partner. Kihara was considering retirement after his career in men¡¯s singles had stalled.
Their win in Italy proved that perseverance pays off.
¡°We won by coming through with a strong performance in the free program, and I learned the value not giving up in any situation at the Games,¡± Miura said.
In addition to their future skating plans, the two were also repeatedly asked about their relationship off the ice.
Kihara described it as ¡°comrades in arms,¡± while Miura likened them to family as it feels natural for them to stay together.
Kihara decided to keep his fans guessing by simply saying ¡°I¡¯ll leave it to your imagination.¡±
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