Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara from Japan emerged victorious in the pairs category at the Four Continents figure skating championship held in Seoul, reclaiming the title they initially secured two years ago. The reigning 2023 world champions took the lead following the short program and then delivered an outstanding performance in the free skate, achieving a season-best score of 142.59 and accumulating a total of 217.32 points to clinch the top spot.
The current world champions, Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps from Canada, faced a challenging start, ranking fourth after the short program. However, they staged a remarkable comeback, earning a season-best score of 141.26 in the free skate, ultimately securing second place with a total of 210.92 points.
Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud, also representing Canada, claimed the third spot with a personal best score of 198.40 points, securing their first ISU championship medal as a team.
Miura and Kihara showcased an impressive free skate routine, including a level three triple twist lift, a throw triple loop, and flawlessly executed triple salchows. The Japanese pair made their debut at the Four Continents competition five years ago at the same venue, finishing in eighth place. Kihara expressed their joy at overcoming numerous challenges and winning the gold medal, emphasizing the progress they have made over the past five years.
In a bid to defend their title at the upcoming world championships in Boston from March 25-30, Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps presented a captivating “Ocean” program featuring various intricate elements. They viewed their performance at the Four Continents as a breakthrough, instilling confidence in their abilities as they head to Boston.
Local favorite Kim Chae-yeon led the women’s short program, showcasing a stellar performance that included a double axel, a triple lutz-triple toeloop combination, and a triple flip, earning her 74.02 points. She outperformed defending champion Mone Chiba from Japan, who secured the second position with 71.20 points. Sarah Everhardt from the U.S. claimed the third spot with 67.36 points, narrowly surpassing compatriot Alysa Liu, who finished fourth with 67.09 points.
Japan’s Miura and Kihara had previously secured the Four Continents title in 2023 when the competition was held in Colorado Springs, Colorado.