Japan Wins Pairs Figure Skating, Knocking China From the Top

New York Times - WorldEN 2 min read 100% complete by Victor Mather, Doug Mills and Vincent AlbanFebruary 16, 2026 at 11:48 PM

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At the 2026 Winter Olympics, the Japanese pair Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara won the gold medal in figure skating, marking Japan's first-ever gold in the event. Their high-scoring free skate performance allowed them to overcome a lower short program score and dethrone the defending Olympic champions, Sui Wenjing and Han Cong of China, who finished fifth. Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava of Georgia secured the silver medal, the nation's first Winter Olympics medal. The bronze medal went to Minerva Hase and Nikita Volodin of Germany. Russian teams, who had previously been strong contenders, were not allowed to participate in the competition.

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Georgia 50% Nikita Volodin 50% Minerva Hase 50% Anastasiia Metelkina 60% Luka Berulava 60% China 60% 2026 Olympics 70% Sui Wenjing ×270% Han Cong ×270% Japan ×280% Riku Miura ×390% Ryuichi Kihara ×390%

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pairs figure skating 100% olympics 80% miura and kihara 70% japan 70% gold medal 70% free skate 60% sui wenjing and han cong 60% china 60% changing of the guard 50% dethroned 50%