Riku-Ryu: From Ice Partners to Forever

Japanese Olympic pairs figure skating champions Miura Riku and Kihara Ryuichi are beginning a new chapter together — this time beyond the competition rink.

The pair, popularly known as “Riku-Ryu,” announced their engagement on social media on Sunday, 23 August 2026, sharing a photograph of Kihara kneeling on the ice and presenting Miura with a ring.

Alongside the photograph, the couple reflected on the journey they have shared since becoming skating partners.

They described supporting each other through both joyful and difficult moments, gradually becoming irreplaceable parts of one another’s lives.

Now, they say they are ready to move forward together while remaining true to themselves.

A Partnership Built Through Challenges

Miura and Kihara began skating together in 2019, and their partnership was far from easy.

Kihara, 34, dealt with persistent back problems, while Miura, 24, continued competing despite a chronically dislocated shoulder.

Their ability to continue working together through those difficulties became an important part of their story.

Rather than allowing setbacks to define their partnership, they continued developing as a team and eventually reached the highest level of the sport.

Olympic History in Milano Cortina

Their greatest competitive achievement came at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Games.

Miura and Kihara not only won Olympic gold but also set a world record.

Their victory made them the first Japanese pair to win an Olympic gold medal in pairs figure skating, creating a historic moment for Japan.

After years of training, injuries and difficult competitions, their Olympic triumph became the defining achievement of their skating partnership.

A New Chapter After Retirement

The couple announced their retirement from competitive skating in April 2026, but stepping away from competition did not mean stepping away from the sport.

They have remained active in promoting pairs figure skating and continue to contribute to the discipline that shaped their careers.

Now their relationship is entering another stage.

After years of sharing training sessions, competitions, injuries, victories and setbacks, Miura and Kihara are preparing to become partners away from the ice as well.

Their engagement adds a personal chapter to a remarkable sporting story — one that began with a skating partnership in 2019 and reached an Olympic peak in 2026.

For “Riku-Ryu,” the next journey will not be about medals or records.

It will be about moving forward together, one step at a time.

Source: article on olympics.com, published August 23, 2026.

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By Vitalina Andrushchenko, Staff Writer