Riku Miura in the spotlight as her pair dominates worlds, defending titles with partner Ryuichi Kihara. Born 2001, Japan. World champ 2023, 2025.
At the Milano Cortina Games, athletes' skate blades were chipped by the rough, abrasive podium surface during medal ceremonies. Japan filed a protest, and organizers plan to replace the surface and offer blade-sharpening services. The incident affected multiple medal-winning teams, prompting safety and fairness concerns.
Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara, known as 'RikuRyu,' have won Japan's first Olympic gold in pair skating at the Milan Cortina Games. They initially finished fifth after an error but made a dramatic comeback with a world-record free skate, ending their career with a victory and announcing their retirement. They aim to promote pair skating in Japan.