Japanese pair skating champions announce their retirement
The Japanese figure skating pair Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara, Olympic champions at Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, have announced their retirement from competition at the end of the current season.
The two skaters, extremely popular in Japan and affectionately nicknamed “Riku-Ryu,” won in February Japan’s first Olympic medal in pair figure skating, climbing from fifth place after the short program to reach the top step of the podium, CE Report quotes ANSA.
“Even though we are ending our competitive careers, we feel we have given everything, without regrets,” Miura and Kihara wrote on social media when announcing their decision.
The pair added that they will continue to take on “new challenges” to bring more Japanese fans closer to pair skating: “We would be grateful if you continue to support us with affection.”
Miura, originally from Hyogo Prefecture in western Japan, and Kihara, born in Aichi Prefecture in central Japan, formed their partnership in 2019 before moving abroad—especially to Canada—for training. After finishing seventh at the Beijing 2022 Olympics, they won their first world title in 2023. They took silver at the 2024 World Championships and reclaimed world gold in 2025.
