At the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics on the 16th, the pair skating team of Rika Miura and Ryuuichi Kihara recovered from a disappointing fifth place in the short program to win a gold medal in the free skate event, marking Japan's first medal in this category. The duo scored an impressive 158.13 points, setting a new world record for the segment. Kihara was visibly emotional, with swollen eyes from crying, and moments of celebration were highlighted with cheers over cola as they shared their joy with the media.

In a discussion with journalists, Kihara expressed immense gratitude for the support he received before the performance, which helped uplift his spirits after the initial disappointment. He mentioned a conversation the day before where he felt reassured that they could still turn the competition around. Kihara described the overwhelming emotions he experienced throughout the day, indicating that the pressure and previous night's lack of sleep weighed heavily on him, yet he was able to find motivation through the encouragement from his partner Miura and their coach, Bruno.

The bond between Miura and Kihara was also evident in the way they prepared for their performance. Kihara recounted how Miura helped stabilize his mental state, allowing them to share a unified resolve to attack their routine vigorously. Their successful execution on the ice was a culmination of their hard work and determination, earning a historic win that not only celebrated their personal triumph but also brought pride to Japan in the world of figure skating.