Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara brought Japanese figure skating its first pairs world championship title on Thursday, improving from last year's silver medal and completing a season Grand Slam following wins at December's ISU Grand Prix Final and February's Four Continents.
Skating nearly without error until Miura fell on a throw triple loop near the end of their free skate to “Atlas: Two,” the pair known as “Rikuryu” earned a season-best score of 141.44 for a combined total of 221.16, bringing both to tears in the kiss-and-cry area as an overjoyed crowd at Saitama Super Arena rose to their feet in celebration.
“Our practice paid off in the short program, and even though I still have regrets from the free skate I’m very happy,” Miura said.
“I really thought I had landed the throw triple loop when I came down, but when I fell I instantly thought in my head that I’d screwed up. ... I was a little confused at how we were able to get a season-best score.”
The journey to Saitama hasn’t been easy for the duo, who announced their formation in August 2019 and made their international debut later that year at the NHK Trophy.
Preparations for the 2022-23 season were delayed after Miura injured her shoulder at an ice show, and the pair was forced to withdraw from December’s national championships after their equipment was lost while traveling to Japan from their home base in Canada.
“Riku was injured just before the start of the season, which was a challenge for us, but we were able to confirm how strong our bond is,” Kihara said. “We practiced less than expected, but there was a strong relationship between us, so that helped us grow.
“We did see some weaknesses in our free skate so we want to work on that for next year and come back stronger.”
Coach Bruno Marcotte praised Rikuryu’s achievement as a significant step forward for pairs skating in Japan, which has seen its greatest successes come in the singles disciplines.
“I really hope that it’s going to create even more interest in the country, and that they become a landmark and legends,” said the Canadian, who in 2007 formed the partnership of Narumi Takahashi and Mervin Tran that went on to win four national titles and place third at the 2012 world championships in Nice, France. “I hope it’s going to result in skaters but also coaches wanting to spend time and learn the discipline.
“I believe one day when Riku and Ryuichi will retire ... if they ever want to coach, this country will be a powerhouse (in pairs), just like they are in men’s and ladies.”
Defending champions Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier, who entered Thursday’s free skate trailing the Japanese by six points after the short program, earned small gold with their free skate, but saw their title defense hopes dashed when Frazier struggled in their toeloop combination and Knierim stepped out on a triple salchow.
“I didn’t really focus or put too much attention on the fact that we’re at a competition and that it’s all about beating somebody else, because that will get you nowhere,” Knierim said. “The Japanese team are really great, but we’re great too, and it just comes down to who delivers.”
The Americans earned silver with a combined score of 217.48, a result they hoped would resonate back in California with coach and former skater Todd Sand, who is in critical condition after suffering a severe heart attack earlier this month.
“I don’t think we’ve ever met somebody that didn’t love and support Todd and (wife and pairs partner) Jenny (Meno) from the moment they started skating together,” Knierim said. “It shows even more when somebody is in such a difficult situation as he is, to see the love of our community. That’s one thing I really love about our sport, is when things get tough, our countries come together.”
Rounding out the podium with a combined 208.08 were European champions Sara Conti and Niccolo Macii, who became Italy’s first pair to medal at the worlds.
“We have held on with our teeth, we had aching legs, we were nervous ... but we’ve done it,” said Macii, whose COVID-19 infection forced the pair to withdraw from the 2022 worlds in Montpellier, France. “We finished on a perfect stage.”
Canadian Deanna Stellato-Dudek, competing in her first world championships at 39 years old, and Maxime Deschamps finished in fourth with 199.97.