At the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, figure skaters Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara, known collectively as 'Riku and Ryu', began their campaign in 5th place in the pairs short program, scoring 73.11 points. They are 6.90 points behind the leading German pair, implying a significant gap but also room for improvement in the upcoming events. Following their performance, both athletes expressed their resolve to stay optimistic, focusing on the next day's free program performance.

During the press interactions, Kihara reflected on a mistake during a lift, noting the importance of mental resilience, emphasizing that such mishaps are part of the sport, and that they need to shift their mindset to perform well in future routines. Miura also shared her thoughts on the lift, hinting at the technical challenges they face as they aim to refine their performances. The pair's cohesive dynamics and their commitment to recovery are critical as they prepare for their subsequent competition.

The Milan-Cortina Olympics, scheduled to take place from February 6 to 22, 2026, adds significant pressure and excitement for competing athletes, making the journey leading up to this event even more crucial for Riku and Ryu. Their performances are being closely watched, as they seek not only to validate their skills but also to inspire the next generation of figure skaters in Japan.