MILAN, Feb 17 (News On Japan) –
The pairs free skating occasion noticed the duo often known as “Rikuryu,” Riku Miura, 24, and Ryuichi Kihara, 33, of the Kinoshita Group, seize a dramatic gold medal in a shocking comeback, delivering a efficiency that introduced your complete area to its toes and incomes 158.13 factors, the best free skating rating in historical past, as they rose from fifth place after the quick program to assert the highest of the rostrum, marking the primary medal within the self-discipline for Japan and overturning a 6.9-point deficit from the quick program in what grew to become the most important comeback for the reason that present scoring system was launched.
After struggling within the quick program the day past, when a steadiness problem on one in every of their signature lifts left them in fifth place and trailing the leaders by 6.9 factors, Miura and Kihara took to the ice final within the third group for the free skate, opening with a excessive triple twist elevate earlier than cleanly executing a three-jump sequence and delivering a steady elevate that had faltered the day earlier than, then touchdown a throw triple Lutz and a throw triple loop with precision, sustaining sturdy synchronization by the latter half of the routine as the group responded with mounting pleasure, and upon ending their commanding efficiency, the 2 embraced on the ice in tears of pleasure.
Their free skate rating surpassed their earlier private better of 155.55 recorded within the workforce occasion, with 158.13 turning into the best free skate rating ever recorded, whereas their mixed whole reached 231.24 factors, the fifth-highest in historical past, surpassing the earlier free skate file of 157.46 set by Russia’s Anastasia Mishina and Aleksandr Galliamov on the 2022 European Championships.
The pair’s achievement marked their first replace of a world-best mark on a serious stage in 4 years, and Kaori Sakamoto, 25, who was watching from the stands, was seen in tears after witnessing the emotional efficiency, as Miura and Kihara waited for the remaining 4 pairs to complete earlier than their gold medal was confirmed, prompting a thunderous response from the world, with Miura momentarily shocked earlier than embracing a tearful Kihara.
The duo had already gained their second world title in 2025, their first in two years, and adopted it with victory on the Grand Prix Final in December of the identical yr, contributing to Japan’s second consecutive workforce occasion silver medal at this competitors with personal-best performances in each the quick and free packages, earlier than lastly reaching their long-sought particular person gold medal, with their podium end bringing Japan’s medal tally at these Winter Olympics stage with its file whole of 18 set on the Beijing Games.
Pairs outcomes: Gold: Riku Miura/Ryuichi Kihara 231.24 factors Silver: A. Metelkina/L. Berulava (Georgia) 221.75 Bronze: M. Hase/N. Volodin (Germany) 219.09
Source: TBS