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Japan's Miura and Kihara Claim Historic Olympic Gold

2/17/2026

24 5 Full Breakdown

Summary

Miura & Kihara Triumph

Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara won Japan's first Olympic gold in pairs skating at the Milan Cortina Games, scoring 158.13 points in the free skate.
They recovered from a fifth-place finish in the short program.
Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava earned silver for Georgia, the country’s first Winter Olympics medal.
Germany's Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin won bronze after falling from the lead due to mistakes.

Summary

Hase & Volodin Lead

The Olympic pairs free skate at Milan Cortina Games is Monday at 2 p.m. ET.
Germany's Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin lead with 80.01 points after the short program.
Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara fell to 5th after a surprising short program.
Only 2.35 points separate 2nd through 5th in the standings.
Canada's Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud sit 3rd; Team USA's Ellie Kam and Danny O'Shea are 7th.

History

Historical Context

The 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, showcased Japan's rising prowess in figure skating, highlighted by Shizuka Arakawa's gold in women's singles. This event marked Japan's first Olympic gold in pairs skating, achieved by Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara at the Milan Cortina Games, reflecting the evolution of Japanese winter sports since their Olympic debut in 1972.

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Miura & Kihara Triumph

Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara won Japan's first Olympic gold in pairs skating at the Milan Cortina Games, scoring 158.13 points in the free skate.
They recovered from a fifth-place finish in the short program.
Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava earned silver for Georgia, the country’s first Winter Olympics medal.
Germany's Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin won bronze after falling from the lead due to mistakes.

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