Japanese pair skaters Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara, who captured gold at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, have officially announced their retirement from competitive skating on Friday.
Known widely as “Riku-Ryu,” the duo secured Japan’s first-ever Olympic medal in pairs figure skating after climbing from fifth place in the short program to the top of the podium at the Games in February.
Their Olympic triumph marked a historic breakthrough for Japan in a discipline where it had long struggled to reach the podium.
The pair’s final appearance together came at the Olympic Games, as Miura, 24, and Kihara, 33, did not compete at the world championships held in Prague in late March, signaling the end of their competitive journey.
“While we are bringing our competitive careers to a close, we feel we have given it everything, with no regrets,” Miura and Kihara said on social media. “We will continue taking on new challenges to have more people in Japan come to know pairs skating.”
The International Skating Union also paid tribute, writing on its Instagram page: “The world will miss you, RikuRyu. Wishing two of you a bright future in your new challenges!”
Miura, who hails from Hyogo prefecture in western Japan, and Kihara, from Aichi prefecture in central Japan, formed their partnership in 2019. Before teaming up, Kihara had competed at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, finishing 18th, and the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, placing 21st with previous partners.
Together, they placed seventh at the 2022 Beijing Olympics before rising to global prominence by winning their first world title the following year. After finishing second in 2024, they reclaimed the world championship crown again last year, cementing their status among the sport’s elite.
For the past seven seasons, the pair trained in Canada, where they often disconnected from their smartphones for weeks to remain focused on training and competition. Their careers were not without physical setbacks, as Kihara dealt with recurring lower back problems linked to demanding pair elements such as lifts and throw jumps, while Miura suffered repeated left shoulder dislocations, including one shortly before the national championships in December.
Following their Olympic success, the pair reportedly informed those close to them of their decision to retire from competition.
In a discipline historically viewed as a weaker area for Japanese figure skating, Miura and Kihara went on to sweep major senior titles, including the Olympics, World Championships, Grand Prix Final, and Four Continents Championships—matching the level of achievement seen in Japanese men’s singles legend Yuzuru Hanyu.
Looking ahead, both skaters have expressed a desire to contribute to the growth of future generations, citing challenges such as limited coaching resources and training infrastructure in Japan’s pairs skating scene.
“We would be grateful if you would continue to watch over us warmly. Thank you very much for your support over all these years,” they said.
