The Japanese duo affectionately known as “Rikuryu” who captured the nation’s first Olympic gold medal in pair figure skating announced their retirement on April 17 via a shared Instagram post to their personal accounts.
Riku Miura, 24, and Ryuichi Kihara, 33, won gold at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and are part of the Kinoshita Group Co.
“We, Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara, have decided to retire from competitive skating at the end of this season,” they said in their post.
They continued, “While we are bringing our competitive careers to a close, we feel a deep sense of fulfillment and have no regrets. Everything we have experienced is a source of pride and a precious asset to us.”
Regarding the future, they said, “We will continue to take on new challenges together so that more people in Japan can learn about pair skating. We would be grateful if you continue to watch over us warmly.”
The two teamed up to compete in pair skating in 2019.
At the 2022 Beijing Olympics, their first Olympic appearance, they finished seventh.
Known for their speed and dynamic skating, they made history in 2023 by becoming the first Japanese pair to win the ISU Figure Skating World Championships, and went on to claim the world title again in 2025.
At the 2026 Winter Games held in Milano Cortina in February, they placed a disappointing fifth in the short program after Kihara suffered a rare stumble in a lift sequence.
However, they delivered a stunning performance in the free skating program the following day, earning a world record score to secure a dramatic comeback victory.
When the subject of retirement surfaced at an April 3 figure skating show, the pair’s first performance at home since the Olympics, Kihara said, “I need a bit more time to think. Nothing has been decided yet.”
Original Source: This article was originally published on Asahi Sports. Click the link to view the full article.