Japan bounced back from a disappointing short program in figure skating to claim pair skating gold on Monday at the Milan/Cortina Winter Games on Monday. Two-time world champions Miura Riku and Kihara Ryuichi were only fifth in the short program on Sunday,

Most of the pairs in the competition struggled with mistakes—until Japan’s Riku Miura and Ryuichi Mihara took to the ice and drew the only standing ovation of the evening.

The reigning world champions delivered a career-best free skate in Milan, earning Japan its first-ever Olympic title in pairs figure skating. Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara produced one of the most memorable moments of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics after winning Japan's first Olympic gold medal in pairs figure skating.

The Japanese government on Tuesday welcomed its first Olympic gold medal in pairs figure skating, won by Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihar

By Lori Ewing MILAN, Feb 16 (Reuters) - Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara delivered a thrilling comeback at the Milano Cortina Games, storming from fifth place after a shaky short programme to capture Japan's first Olympic figure skating pairs title on Monday.

Japan's Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara soared from fifth place to Olympic gold with a world-record free skate on Monday. The final day of Olympic pairs skating brought records, history and heartbreak.

Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara stormed back from fifth place to capture Japan's first Olympic figure skating pairs title on Monday.

Cortina Winter Olympics on Monday. Get the latest news, results, medal count, TV schedules and highlights from Italy.