Recently, two athletes Miura Riku (24 years old) and Kihara Ryuichi (33 years old) brought home the first gold medal in figure skating for Japan at the Olympics. The pair also set a world record with 158.13 points in the free skating event and a total score of 231.24 points.
Miura Riku and Kihara Ryuichi are called the "Riku-Ryu duo" by the Japanese media. After competing at the 2026 Winter Olympics, the two athletes became famous on social media, receiving attention from Asian public opinion.
Videos and images of Miura Riku and Kihara Ryuichi are strongly shared on platforms. Keywords related to the couple continuously lead the search trend with high discussion.
Kihara Ryuichi and Miura Riku are 9 years apart, working together since 2019. In the past 7 years, they have won the World Championships, Four-Continent Championships, Grand Prix... However, at the Olympics, the Japanese couple had to go through a long journey to reach the gold medal.
At the 2014 and 2018 Olympics, Kihara Ryuichi was eliminated in the short event, unable to advance to the free event. At the 2022 Olympics, Kihara Ryuichi and Miura Riku contributed to helping their team win a silver medal in the team event.
4 years later, they completed their unfinished dream at the 2026 Winter Olympics held in Italy when they won the highest position in doubles figure skating.
Before this success, Kihara Ryuichi went through many difficulties. In his men's singles years, Kihara did not make an impression, so he decided to switch to team events in 2013. He participated in the 2014 and 2018 Olympics.
In 2019, Kihara Ryuichi did not find a new co-star, and there was a period of consideration for retirement due to shoulder injuries and brain concussion. He switched to working as a hired worker at an ice rink in his hometown to make ends meet.
In July 2019, Kihara met Miura Riku in a compatibility test between athletes. Kihara Ryuichi found harmony when releasing Miura into the air, thereby sparking a passion for skating. Similarly, Miura felt happy and comfortable collaborating with Kihara.
Miura Riku (24 years old), paired with Kihara in 2019 when she was only 18 years old. Miura is one of the rising young talents of Japanese figure skating, gradually conquering her goal. Besides skills, she is also loved by many people for her beautiful appearance and attractive appearance.
Coach Bruno Marcotte - who paired Miura and Kihara - commented: "What I see in her is a very talented figure skater. Miura has the mindset to compete in pairs, she is fearless, brave. In the compatibility test, Kihara threw Miura into the air, creating something special.
