Minerva-Fabienne Hase shares emotional embrace with Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara after missing out on gold medal: 'A great story for figure skating'
Published 17/02/2026 at 13:01 GMT
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Minerva-Fabienne Hase shared an emotional embrace with Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara despite missing out on the gold medal in the pairs figure skating. Hase and her partner, Nikita Volodin, won the bronze medal despite a stunning display in the short programme. Georgia's Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava will return home with the silver medal after a strong showing.
'This is more like it!' - Miura and Kihara take gold for Japan
Video credit: TNT Sports
Minerva-Fabienne Hase proved that the Winter Olympic spirit is alive and well after she and Nikita Volodin secured a bronze medal in the pairs figure skating.
The German team could have hoped for a higher place on the podium after an impressive performance in Sunday's short programme, but Japan's Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara bounced back with a once-in-a-lifetime routine in the free skate. Georgia's Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava won the silver medal, leaving Hase and Volodin with the bronze.
However, instead of rueing missed opportunities, Hase immediately showed her sportsmanship by embracing her Japanese rivals.
She believes that Miura and Kihara's story is great for figure skating.
"No, it [embracing her opponents] wasn't difficult for me at all," she told Eurosport. "Everyone always thinks we want to see the others fail.
"Of course, we want the gold medal. But the two of them were fantastic that evening, setting a world record in their free skate.
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Miura sees the funny side as Kihara overcome with emotion
Video credit: TNT Sports
"I was also really happy for them.
"They've had some difficult years, didn't win a medal at the last Games, then committed themselves for another four years and now they've done it here with a mega performance.
"I have the utmost respect for the fact that they kept their nerves on this stage and delivered such a free skate.
"It was just amazing and a great story for figure skating."
All three athletes were visibly emotional as they embraced after the event.
Miura and Kihara finished the pairs figure skating with 231.24 points, well clear of Metelkina and Berulava on 221.75 as well as Hase and Volodin on 219.09.
Hase and Volodin showed excellent execution to lead the way after the short programme with 80.01 points.
However, they finished fourth overall in the free skate with 139.08.
Volodin had previously represented Russia but was allowed to compete at this year's Games after being granted German citizenship in 2025.
The pair can still hold their heads up high after securing Germany's first medal in the event since 2018.
The bronze was also Hase's first medal at a Winter Olympic Games.
Miura and Kihara missed out on a medal in Beijing four years ago after finishing seventh overall.
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However, they did return home with a silver after helping Japan into second place in the team event.
Team GB's Anastasia Vaipan-Law and Luke Digby will return home empty-handed after finishing in 15th place in the overall standings.
Watch every event of Milano Cortina 2026 live on discovery+. Available across all subscription plans, starting at £3.99.
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