The defending world champions from Japan were initially on the entry list for the annual event, but ultimately opted not to go, citing a short turnaround from their Milano Cortina 2026 success.

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By Lena Smirnova28 February 2026 00:10 GMT+72 min read

A new figure skating pair will be crowned world champions this March after Japan’s Miura Riku and Kihara Ryichi announced they will not be defending their title at the 2026 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Prague, Czechia.

The Japanese skaters won the world title in 2023 and 2025, and went on to claim gold at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 earlier in February.

Initially on the list to compete at the 2026 Worlds, which take place from 24 to 29 March, Miura/Kihara explained through the Japan Skating Federation on Friday (27 February) that they have decided to withdraw due to the short turnaround between the two major competitions of the season.

“This season, our main goal was the Olympics, and from the start of the season, we hadn’t really considered whether we would compete at Worlds,” the pair said in a statement.

“After winning the gold medal at the Olympics, we realised it would be difficult to return our physical and mental condition to the pre-Olympic level in time for Worlds, so we made the decision to withdraw.”

MiuraKihara added that they will make an announcement about their future plans once the season is over.

With the defending champions and 2024 world champions, Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps of Canada, missing the event, the road is now wide open for a new winning pair.

Olympic silver medallists Anastasiia Metelkina/Luka Berulava of Georgia and bronze medallists Minerva Fabienne Hase/Nikita Volodin of Germany are the top contenders for that world title, which would be the first for either pair.

Olympic medallists Liu, Sakamoto, Malinin on entry list for 2026 ISU Figure Skating World Championships – full list of skaters competing
Winter Olympics 2026: Exquisite Miura Riku and Kihara Ryuichi capture Japan’s first-ever Olympic title in pairs figure skating

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“A mental battle” – Pairs champions Miura/Kihara on dramatic comeback at 2026 Winter Olympics

After a disappointing short program, where they finished in fifth position, Miura Riku and Kihara Ryuichi overcame sadness and frustration to produce a personal best free skate performance to become Japan’s first Olympic champions in the event. The pair shared with Olympics.com how they regrouped before the free skate, and their learnings from Milano Cortina 2026.

After becoming Japan’s first figure skating pairs gold medalists at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara made a triumphant return to Japan on Wednesday, vowing to continue working together.

Of the 24 medals Japan won, a record for the nation at a Winter Games, the gold for Miura and Kihara was arguably the most memorable.

 

After a rare mistake by Kihara on a lift in the short program, the popular pair, dubbed Riku-Ryu, recovered to win the gold with a world-record 158.13 points in the free program.

The stirring victory won over the hearts of Japanese fans, including Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who wrote on X, “Watching the performance, it was as if two hearts became one and we were able to feel the trust you had in one another.”

Speaking to reporters at a news conference in Tokyo, the two faced a barrage of questions from reporters about their future plans.

The world championships will be held in Prague next month, and everyone wanted to know if a defense of their Olympic gold four years later in France is part of their plans.

Kihara said they haven’t had time to figure out their future competition schedule. Whatever that is, however, Miura vowed it will be together.

“I will retire when Kihara retires,” the 24-year-old Miura said. “I would never continue with someone else.”

Japan first took part in Olympic pairs skating at the 1972 Sapporo Olympics. Since then, there were gold medals in men’s and women’s singles, but this year’s gold in pairs was a first.

Miura and Kihara first started skating together in 2019. Miura had dissolved her previous partnership and was seeking a new partner. Kihara was considering retirement after his career in men’s singles had stalled.

Their win in Italy proved that perseverance pays off.

“We won by coming through with a strong performance in the free program, and I learned the value not giving up in any situation at the Games,” Miura said.

In addition to their future skating plans, the two were also repeatedly asked about their relationship off the ice.

Kihara described it as “comrades in arms,” while Miura likened them to family as it feels natural for them to stay together.

Kihara decided to keep his fans guessing by simply saying “I’ll leave it to your imagination.”