Shoma Uno, a highly decorated figure skater with three Olympic medals and two world championships under his belt, recently announced his retirement at the age of 26. He made the announcement on his social media platforms and it was later confirmed by Japan’s figure skating federation. In his retirement announcement, Uno expressed his gratitude for his 21-year career in competitive skating, noting that he discovered his passion for the sport at just 5 years old.
Throughout his career, Uno achieved great success, winning the world championship in 2022 and 2023, and clinching Olympic silver and bronze in 2018 and 2022 respectively. He was also part of the Olympic team event that won silver in 2022. Uno’s early days in skating were marked by determination and skill as he chased after his older training partner, Mao Asada. He made history by landing a quadruple flip in competition at the young age of 18.
Uno’s rise to the top of the sport saw him become a fierce competitor to his fellow countryman Yuzuru Hanyu and American skater Nathan Chen. Under the guidance of his coach Stéphane Lambiel, a former Olympic medalist himself, Uno continued to push his boundaries on the ice. However, he admitted that in his final season, he lacked the same drive to win that he once had. Despite this, Uno’s lasting impact on the sport is undeniable, and his retirement marks the end of an era in figure skating.
In an interview with The New York Times, Uno stated that he will be holding a press conference next Tuesday to provide more details about his decision to retire from competitive figure skating. He said that it was not an easy decision but after much thought and reflection with my family and coaches I have decided to hang up my boots.”