Pairs figure skating Olympic medalists, Miura, Kihara, announce engagement | NHK WORLD

Pairs figure skating Olympic medalists, Miura, Kihara, announce engagement

Miura Riku and Kihara Ryuichi, the Japanese Olympic gold medalists in pairs figure skating, have announced their engagement.

The duo, known as "Riku-Ryu," posted the news on their social media accounts on Sunday. They shared photos, including one that shows Kihara kneeling down on the rink, presenting a ring to Miura.

They said, "As we begin this new chapter, we'll continue to support each other and move forward together, one step at a time, while always staying true to who we are."

Miura, 24, and Kihara, 34, teamed up in 2019 and made their Olympic debut at the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing, finishing in seventh place.

They rose to the world's top ranks through their seamless synchronization and precision in challenging technical skills, such as lifts. They won the world title in pairs figure skating twice.

At the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in February, Miura and Kihara fell to fifth place in the short program after an error on their signature lift. But in free skating, they staged a dramatic comeback to win with an all-time high score, delivering a stunning performance.

It was the first time a Japanese pair won a medal in Olympic pairs figure skating.

The two announced their retirement from competition after the Games. They are currently engaged in activities such as producing ice shows with the aim of promoting pairs figure skating.