Rika Miura (三浦璃来) and Ryuichi Kihara (木原龍一), the figure skating pair known to fans as “Rikuryu,” announced on August 23 that they are engaged. The pair, who won the gold medal in pairs figure skating at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics before announcing their retirement from competition in April 2026, shared the news simultaneously on their personal social media accounts.
The photos accompanying the announcement showed Kihara kneeling on the ice and presenting a ring box to Miura, who is pictured clasping her hands together in front of her chest with a joyful expression. Other images showed the pair smiling while wearing the rings, and notably, both were dressed in the same costumes they wore when winning their Olympic gold medal.
“Through happy times and hard times, we have spent so much time together, supporting one another,” the couple wrote in their joint statement. “At some point, we became irreplaceable, indispensable to each other. We are truly happy to finally be able to share this news with you all.”
The announcement came just one day after Kihara’s 34th birthday on August 22, which Miura had marked with her own celebratory post. In that message, she wrote, “Happy birthday. Now that your long competitive career has ended, it’s a new start toward a different dream than the one you pursued as an athlete,” accompanied by photos of the two together, including shots taken at the rink and one of them wearing matching helmets in front of the ocean. Miura playfully urged Kihara to “stay the same serious, careful, positive, always-smiling Ryuichi Kihara (elementary schooler)” going forward, a lighthearted nickname referencing his personality.
Who are Rika Miura and Ryuichi Kihara?
Miura, 24, and Kihara, 34, are a pairs figure skating duo who competed together under the nickname “Rikuryu,” a portmanteau of their first names. The pair captured Japan’s attention by winning the gold medal in pairs figure skating at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, one of the country’s marquee results at the Games. Following that Olympic triumph, they announced their retirement from competitive skating in April 2026, closing out their partnership on the ice as reigning Olympic champions before now beginning a new chapter together off it.
Details on wedding plans have not yet been announced, and it remains to be seen what the newly engaged pair will pursue next now that their competitive skating careers have concluded.
Author’s Comment
I have to hand it to them: proposing in the exact costumes they wore to win Olympic gold is the kind of romantic flex that would look insufferable from literally anyone else, but from these two it just works. There’s something very Japanese about the whole reveal, too — the shy "we’re a little surprised no one’s surprised" energy, the birthday post the day before like a perfectly timed setup. Retire as Olympic champions, get engaged as Olympic champions, never break character. Frankly, if I’d just won gold with someone, I’d probably propose in the costume too.
