During their time in Canada, they reportedly took occasional breaks from smartphones to focus on training.

Japan’s Olympic pairs champions Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara have announced they will retire from competition at the end of the current season, after making history as Japan’s first Olympic gold medalists in pairs.

The pair expressed gratitude to supporters and signaled they will transition into coaching or development roles, inviting fans to continue following their journeys.

Their competitive arc included a seventh-place finish at Beijing 2022, a world title in 2023, a runner-up finish in 2024, and a second world title in 2025, capped by Olympic glory in Milan-Cortina.

They trained under coach Bruno Marcotte in Canada and did not compete at the most recent world championships prior to retirement.

They withdrew from the world championships in March and have not yet announced their future plans.

The retirement announcement was made without additional context, dates, or reasons provided in the initial report.

Details such as the exact date, venue, or rationale for retirement were not disclosed in the excerpt; the focus remains on the announcement itself.

The retirement was posted simultaneously on their personal social media accounts on a Friday.

For seven seasons, they trained mainly in Canada and have faced health challenges, with Kihara dealing with chronic lower back issues and Miura with repeated left shoulder dislocations as recently as December.

Kihara’s back problems stem from lifts, twists, and throws, while Miura’s left shoulder dislocations occurred close to nationals last year.

They withdrew from the 2026 World Championships in Prague amid speculation about their future, and Miura had previously stated she would not skate with anyone other than Kihara.