Combat, survival and triumph
MILAN, Feb 16 (Reuters) - Figure skater Ryuichi Kihara said he could not stop crying since the early setback he and partner Riku Miura suffered on Sunday, but on Monday the duo climbed back to win Japan's first Olympic pairs gold with a powerful, Gladiator-themed free skate.
The two‑time world champions had been devastated after finishing fifth in the short programme due to a lift error, but returned with a performance their coach, Bruno Marcotte, said was built on heart, belief and seven years of resilience.
Kihara, 33, said he struggled to shake off the previous day's mistake and arrived at practice still shaken.
Riku Miura said seeing her partner in tears pushed her to take the lead.
"Ryuichi has been crying since this morning, and so I felt like I needed to be strong and support him and help him focus," the 24-year-old said.Their free skate reflected their struggles — a programme built around combat, survival and triumph.
Skating to music from the "Gladiator" soundtrack performed by Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, they attacked every element with the steadiness that had deserted them a day earlier, their choreography echoing the resilience that has defined their partnership.Source: Agnieszka Flak/Reuters
