In his retirement announcement, Shoma Uno expressed his gratitude for his 21-year career in competitive skating. The highly decorated figure skater won three Olympic medals and two world championships during his time on the ice. He discovered his passion for the sport at just 5 years old and went on to become one of Japan’s most successful skaters.
Uno, who is retiring at the age of 26, will be holding a press conference next Tuesday to provide more details about his decision. He was part of the Olympic team event that won silver in 2022 and clinched Olympic silver and bronze in 2018 and 2022 respectively. Throughout his career, Uno achieved great success, winning the world championship in 2022 and 2023.
His 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 fellow countryman Yuzuru Hanyu and American skater Nathan Chen.
Despite this, Uno’s lasting impact on the sport is undeniable, and his retirement marks the end of an era in figure skating under coach Stéphane Lambiel, a former Olympic medalist himself who helped push Uno’s boundaries on the ice.