Reigning pairs world and Grand Prix Final champions Miura Riku and Kihara Ryuichi withdrew from Sunday’s (21 December) free skating at the Japan Figure Skating Championships 2025 due to Miura’s dislocated shoulder, the Japan Skating Federation said.
Miura re-injured her shoulder during warm-ups ahead of the short program earlier. She competed through the injury, and the couple finished first out of the three entries.
It remains to be seen whether Miura has a full or partial dislocation. She has suffered the injury on more than one occasion since 2022.
In principle, participation at the Japan nationals is a must for selection to the Olympic Winter Games.
However, per JSF rules, in the event of an unforeseen circumstance such as injury, a skater(s) having won a medal at the world championships still can be selected to the Games.
Before the injury, Miura/Kihara were seen to be a lock to make the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 team given their outstanding track record.
In their absence, Nagaoka Yuna/Moriguchi Sumitada beat out Kagotani Ayumi/Honda Lucas Tsuyoshi 215.30 to 133.47 for their maiden championship.
Yoshida Utana and Morita Masaya (172.29) comfortably won the ice dance title over Kushida Ikura/Shimada Koshiro (165.75).
*As National Olympic Committees have the exclusive authority for the representation of their respective countries at the Olympic Winter Games, athletes’ participation at Milano Cortina 2026 depends on their NOC selecting them to represent their delegation at the Games.