Kihara hauls gear for two as the Rikuryu duo clinches gold — exclusive look at their celebratory moment

“All I did was act like the older sister”

The Riku-Ryu pair achieved a historic feat.

At the Milan–Cortina Winter Olympics, on February 16 (local time), the pairs free program in figure skating was held, and Riku Miura (24) and Ryuichi Kihara (33)—the “Riku-Ryu” pair—claimed the gold medal.

During the team event from February 6 to 9, they ranked first in the short program. In the free program, they scored the highest in the world this season, bringing Japan the silver medal. Riding that momentum, they entered the individual event as the top gold medal favorites, but during the short program lift on the 15th, they suffered an unexpected mistake, starting in fifth place.

“Right after the performance, Kihara looked completely dejected, his shoulders slumped, and he seemed too shocked to lift his face. Still, Miura placed her hand on Kihara’s shoulder and seemed to be speaking to encourage him. Kihara is nine years older, but this scene reflects the kind of relationship that has defined their strength since last year,” said a sports reporter.

In the free program, they flawlessly executed all the lifts they had previously missed, achieving the highest score in history. They overcame a 6.90-point deficit to the leader, achieving an Olympic record-setting comeback to win gold.

In a post-award interview, Miura said,

“Being able to recover from yesterday’s mistake and show the strength we’ve built over time is what makes me happiest.”

Seeing Kihara in tears, she added with a smile,

“Ryuichi was crying the whole time. He’s always the one pulling us forward. So this time, I acted like the older sister.”

Kihara responded,

“The roles were reversed from four years ago at the Beijing Olympics. Back then, I was the one leading, but this time, she helped me the whole way. After yesterday, I really thought it was all over, but Riku pulled me through strongly, and we managed to come back. Not giving up really paid off.”

“FRIDAY Digital” had previously observed this dynamic between the two back in April of last year, during the season finale at the World Team Trophy in Figure Skating.

On the final day, during the exhibition, the Riku-Ryu pair performed last and thrilled the crowd. Afterwards, they appeared outside the venue for waiting fans.

A really great balance

Kihara wore a tracksuit, carrying large bags under both arms, with a big suitcase by his side. Meanwhile, Miura wore oversized sunglasses and an all-black, stylish outfit, giving off a very celebrity-like appearance. Watching Kihara load both of their luggage onto the bus, he looked like a male manager supporting a female talent.

In an April 2024 interview for web Sportiva (April 19, 2024), Kihara said,

“At first, I was taking the leadership—well, I still do somewhat—but recently I’ve felt like I’m being bossed around. I feel my position is gradually weakening (laughs).”

That moment could be glimpsed in real life.

About their strength as a pair, professional skater and commentator Takahito Mura said,

“The overall completeness of their performance was overwhelming compared to other pairs. In terms of technical points, they even scored over 10 points higher than the German pair who ranked first in the short program. For me, it was truly the best performance in history. In a way, not being satisfied with the short program may have actually given them the motivation to start fresh for the free program.”

Regarding their personal dynamic, he added,

“Even before the team event, Ryuichi said things like, ‘Let’s blow everyone away. We can absolutely take on the challenge.’ Basically, Ryuichi is the one leading. But in moments like this, Riku also takes charge. In each situation, they support each other. I felt once again that they’re a pair with a really great balance.”

The unstoppable run of the strongest pair in history has only just begun.