Shoma Uno, a three-time Olympic medalist and two-time world champion, recently announced his retirement at the age of 26. In a post on social media, Uno expressed his gratitude for being able to skate competitively for 21 years, starting at the age of 5. He mentioned that he will be holding a press conference to further discuss his decision next Tuesday.
Uno’s successful career includes winning the world championships in 2022 and 2023, as well as earning Olympic silver in 2018 and bronze in 2022. He also won an Olympic team event silver in 2022 and consistently placed in the top four in major competitions since 2017. Uno’s retirement comes after placing fourth at his last competition, this past March’s worlds.
Starting his skating journey at a young age, Uno quickly rose to become a formidable challenger to top skaters like Yuzuru Hanyu. Coached by 2006 Olympic silver medalist Stéphane Lambiel since 2019, Uno has been a prominent figure in the figure skating world. Despite his recent performances indicating a possible shift in focus, Uno reflected on his skating journey as he closed this chapter of his life.
As Uno bids farewell to competitive skating, his impact on the sport and his achievements will be remembered by the figure skating community and fans worldwide.