Olympic figure skaters Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara engaged
Olympic figure skating champions Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara have announced their engagement, transitioning their celebrated on-ice partnership into marriage.
The couple, affectionately known as «Riku-Ryu» to their substantial fan base in Japan, shared the news via Instagram on Sunday. The announcement featured a photograph of Kihara kneeling on an ice rink to present a ring to Miura.
The 24-year-old Miura and 34-year-old Kihara secured their place in sporting history in February by becoming the first Japanese pair to win Olympic gold in figure skating. Their victory at the Milano Cortina Winter Games in Italy featured a dramatic comeback. After a short programme error left them in fifth place, the duo delivered a record-setting free skate to the soundtrack of «Gladiator,» claiming the top podium spot.
Overcoming career obstacles
Their path to Olympic glory was marked by significant physical challenges. Since forming their partnership in 2019, Kihara managed recurring back injuries while Miura competed despite chronic shoulder dislocations. The couple announced their retirement from competitive skating in April, just two months after their Olympic triumph, stating they had given everything to the sport and held no regrets.
During their four-year competitive partnership, Miura and Kihara won two World Championships, two Four Continents titles and a Grand Prix Final.
The couple indicated they plan to continue promoting pair skating in Japan as they begin their next chapter together off the ice.
