In a surprise announcement, highly decorated figure skater Shoma Uno has announced his retirement at the age of 26. Uno, who has won three Olympic medals and two world championships throughout his 21-year career, shared the news on his social media platforms before it was later confirmed by Japan’s figure skating federation.
In an interview with local media, Uno expressed his gratitude for his time in competitive skating and noted that he discovered his passion for the sport at just 5 years old. Despite facing stiff competition from fellow countrywoman Mao Asada in his early days, Uno made history by landing a quadruple flip in competition at the age of 18. He later rose to become one of the most feared competitors in the sport, going toe-to-toe with fellow Japanese skater Yuzuru Hanyu and American sensation Nathan Chen.
Uno’s decision to retire comes as no surprise to many fans of the sport, who have watched him struggle to maintain the same drive and motivation that he once had throughout his career. However, Uno remains optimistic about what lies ahead and is excited for what the future holds both on and off the ice. He plans to hold a press conference next Tuesday to provide more details about his decision and discuss his plans for life after retiring from competitive skating.
