MILAN — Danny O’Shea and his partner, Ellie Kam, skated onto the ice Monday night for their fourth program of these Olympics. Each one had gone better than the one before, and the Americans entered the pairs final in seventh place. They knew that rank was deceptively low in a congested competition — a single successful jump more than the other teams could be the difference between them and a potential bronze medal.
Japan’s dynamic duo, Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara, delivered a commanding performance to capture the pairs title, showcasing their technical precision and artistic connection on the ice. Their gold-medal routine highlighted the consistency and chemistry that have made them one of the world’s top pairs teams.
Miura and Kihara entered the competition as strong contenders and lived up to expectations. Their program featured clean side-by-side jumps, powerful lifts, and smooth transitions that earned high marks from the judges. The pair’s confident execution and polished presentation helped them separate from the field and secure the top spot on the podium.
While the Japanese team celebrated gold, the United States also had reason to be encouraged. Multiple American pairs delivered solid performances, with two teams finishing inside the top 10. Their results reflected growing depth in U.S. pairs skating and provided valuable international experience as the season progresses.
The American skaters demonstrated improved technical consistency, particularly in their throws and lifts, and managed to hold their own against a competitive international lineup. Coaches and analysts noted that the top-10 finishes are a positive sign for the program’s development heading into future championships.
For Miura and Kihara, the victory adds another major result to their résumé and reinforces their status as medal favorites in upcoming events. Their blend of technical difficulty and expressive skating continues to set a high standard in the pairs discipline.
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