{"id":12255,"date":"2026-03-11T12:47:11","date_gmt":"2026-03-11T12:47:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/grow24.us\/?p=12255"},"modified":"2026-03-11T12:47:11","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T12:47:11","slug":"i-thought-it-was-over-when-the-scorecards-confirmed-japans-first-olympic-gold-medal-in-doubles-figure-skating-ryuichi-kihara-didnt-jump-for-joy-he-collapsed-on-t","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/grow24.us\/?p=12255","title":{"rendered":"\u201cI THOUGHT IT WAS OVER.\u201d When the scorecards confirmed Japan\u2019s first Olympic gold medal in doubles figure skating, Ryuichi Kihara didn\u2019t jump for joy. He collapsed on the ice, weeping beside Riku Miura. Few knew that before that moment, Kihara had worked at a small ice rink in Aichi, handing out skates to beginners and believing his dream was over. Then Miura appeared\u2026 and everything changed. When the world saw a champion kneeling in tears, they realized: it wasn\u2019t just a victory \u2014 it was the story of someone who had almost given up everything."},"content":{"rendered":"

No one cried more than Ryuichi Kihara in the doubles event at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics. But after all, those very tears paved the way for a golden moment for Japanese figure skating.<\/p>\n

Having nearly retired due to injury and a crisis of confidence, Ryuichi Kihara never imagined that a chance audition seven years ago would open the door to his journey with Riku Miura to Japan\u2019s first Olympic gold medal in the figure skating pair event.<\/div>\n
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On February 16th at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, the duo Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara set the stands ablaze as they won the gold medal in the doubles event, marking Japan\u2019s first Olympic triumph in this category.<\/p>\n

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The pair of athletes Ryuichi Kihara and Riku Miura won the gold medal at the Winter Olympics.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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After a rare mistake in their short program that saw them drop to fifth place, \u201cRikuryu\u201d\u2014the nickname fans gave the pair\u2014performed a perfect free skating routine, setting a world record of 158.13 points. Their total score of 231.24 allowed them to make a spectacular comeback.<\/p>\n

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When the score appeared on the screen, Kihara shouted with emotion, while Miura (24 years old) covered her mouth in stunned silence. Both knelt on the ice and embraced each other. For Kihara (33 years old), it was a moment of release after years of pressure and doubt.<\/p>\n

From the brink of retirement to a fateful encounter.<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
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Few people know that his journey to that gold medal began during a dark period. After the 2014 and 2018 Olympics, Kihara struggled with shoulder injuries and a concussion. In the spring of 2019, he ended his collaboration with his former skating partner, returned to Aichi Prefecture, and worked part-time at the skating rink where he had trained as a child.<\/p>\n

At 26, when his peers had already established their careers, Kihara thought he wasn\u2019t suited for doubles and planned to compete in singles one more time before retiring. He took on various jobs at the ice rink, from handing out skates to working night shifts at the accommodation and coaching young children, earning a salary comparable to a student\u2019s part-time job.<\/p>\n

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The turning point came in June 2019, when the Japan Skating Federation held a pair audition at Chukyo University. Canadian coach Bruno Marcotte, who was then coaching Miura and her former skating partner, offered Kihara a one-hour trial skating session with Miura.<\/p>\n

During a twist lift, Miura was tossed so high that Marcotte gasped in amazement. According to Kihara, that moment was like being struck by lightning; the surge of emotion rekindled his love for the sport.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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A month later, the two officially partnered and moved to Canada for training with Marcotte.<\/p>\n

Rapid rise to power and a glorious redemption.<\/b><\/h3>\n