From Olympic Gold to Retirement: The Journey of 26-year-old Shoma Uno, Japan’s Decorated Figure Skater

26-year-old Shoma Uno, a decorated figure skater with three Olympic medals and two world championship titles, has announced his retirement from the sport. In a message shared on social media and reposted by Japan’s figure skating federation, Uno expressed his gratitude for being able to skate for 21 years and have a successful competitive career. He stated that he will hold a press conference next Tuesday to provide further details about his decision.

Throughout his career, Uno consistently placed in the top four at major events, including winning Olympic silver in 2018 and bronze in 2022, as well as securing an Olympic team event silver in 2022. He became the first skater to land a quad flip in competition at the age of 18 and was coached by Stéphane Lambiel of Switzerland since 2019. Known for his mastery of difficult jumps, Uno was considered one of the best skaters in the world following Hanyu’s retirement and Chen’s break from competition.

Despite his success, Uno admitted to feelings of uncertainty about his competitive future in his last season, stating that he lacked the strong desire to win that he once had. After finishing behind American skater Ilia Malinin at the world championships, Uno reflected on his age and the influence of his fellow competitors on his mindset toward competition. Following his retirement announcement, NBC Sports research contributed additional insights into Uno’s storied career.