Simone Biles reacts to Miura Riku’s and Kihara Ryuichi’s golden pairs skate at Winter Olympics 2026

Gymnastics superstar Simone Biles knows a thing or two about a gold-medal performance.

And she knew she had witnessed one the moment she saw it Monday evening (16 February) at the Winter Olympics 2026.

The seven-time Olympic champion was on hand at the Milano Ice Skating Arena for the pairs free skate competition that saw Japan’s Miura Riku and Kihara Ryuichi soar to a first-ever gold in the event.

“Wow! I think they’re new Olympic champions!” Biles told Olympics.com of the Japanese, as the pair couldn’t hold back their emotions on the ice following their near perfect skate. “I’m pretty sure that was perfection.”

The pair entered the competition as the defending world champions – a position Biles is more than familiar with having entered all three of her Games appearances at Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020, and Paris 2024 as the global champion.

“There’s just a lot of pressure to deliver again and to become Olympic champion,” Biles said of the pressure to defend a global title at the Games as the Japanese took to the ice Monday. “That’s what everyone expects of you already. I hope they get it done.”

From the stands in Milano, Biles could appreciate both the brilliance on the ice and the burden that comes with it. And while she may be used to centre stage herself, this week she’s happily taking it all in as a fan.

The American has been enjoying everything Milano has to offer during her first trip to the Olympic Winter Games.

“We’ve eaten lots of pasta, shopped a little bit, slept, gone to the spa,” Biles said of her and husband Jonathan Owens’ time in Italy. “But mainly eaten.”

There is still one thing left to make the 23-time world champion’s time in Italy complete: the perfect pizza.

“I haven’t even had pizza one time, only pasta,” Biles said. “We do need to find pizza and maybe gelato.”