World Champions Miura and Kihara Lead Japan's Figure Skating Resurgence With Dominant Pairs Performance at Milano Cortina 2026 Team Event

Reigning world champions Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara sent a powerful message to their Olympic rivals on Friday, February 6, demonstrating that Japan will fight to the end for the first figure skating medal of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. The dynamic pair compiled a score of 82.84 in the pairs short program, the highest mark in the event, as they showcased the technical precision and artistic flair that made them world champions. Their stellar performance helped Japan maintain second place in the team event standings with 23 points, trailing only the United States with 25 points after the first day of competition. Italy sits in third with 22 points, followed by Georgia with 20 and Canada with 19 in what has shaped up to be an intensely competitive battle for team medals.

The "RikuRyū" pair's journey back to the Olympic stage has been nothing short of remarkable. The defending world champions had not skated together for three years before reuniting this season specifically to compete at Milano Cortina 2026. Now in their seventh season as a partnership, Miura and Kihara have steadily built an impressive record of success despite significant obstacles. Both skaters battled through injuries during their time apart, yet they returned to claim the 2025 World Championships title, proving their chemistry and competitive spirit remained intact. Their comeback story has captivated Japanese figure skating fans and added emotional depth to their Olympic quest.

In the pairs short program competition, Miura and Kihara executed their elements with exceptional quality, earning high grades of execution from the judges for their side-by-side triple Salchows, throw triple loop, and lift sequences. Their program demonstrated the technical difficulty and synchronization that separates elite pairs teams from the rest of the field. The 82.84 score not only topped the pairs event but also earned Japan crucial points in the team competition format, which combines results from men's singles, women's singles, pairs, and ice dance. Each discipline contributes to the overall team total, with the top five nations after the short program advancing to the free skate portion of the event.

Japan's strong position in the team event reflects the depth and quality of their figure skating program across multiple disciplines. Beyond Miura and Kihara's dominant pairs performance, Japan also received solid contributions from their entries in ice dance and singles competition. The team event has become one of the most anticipated competitions at the Winter Olympics since its introduction, offering fans the opportunity to see the world's best skaters compete for national pride rather than individual glory. The format creates dramatic moments and unexpected storylines as teams must rely on every member to contribute points toward the collective goal.

The figure skating team event continues through the weekend, with the free skate programs determining the final medal standings. Japan faces stiff competition from the United States, which leads after day one behind strong performances from Madison Chock and Evan Bates in ice dance, who scored 91.06 points. Italy, competing on home ice, has also positioned itself as a serious medal contender. For Miura and Kihara, their pairs short program success has given Japan momentum heading into the crucial free skate round. The world champions will need to deliver another exceptional performance to help Japan capture what would be a historic team medal at Milano Cortina 2026, cementing their status as one of the greatest pairs teams in Japanese figure skating history.