From World Champion to Retiree: The Surprising End to Japanese Figure Skater Shoma Uno’s Career

Japanese figure skater Shoma Uno, a two-time world champion and Olympic medalist, announced his retirement from the sport at the age of 26. Uno won the men’s free skating event at the World Figure Skating Championships in Saitama in 2023 and had a successful career in figure skating.

Uno shared his decision to retire on social media, explaining that he had been skating since he was just 5 years old. Despite his accomplishments, Uno mentioned that he was finding it increasingly difficult to stay motivated in the sport.

Throughout his career, Uno achieved notable success, winning a silver medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang and earning a bronze medal at the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing. His retirement marks the end of an era in figure skating and leaves behind a legacy of excellence in the sport.

Uno is expected to make a formal announcement regarding his retirement at a ceremony scheduled for May 14 in Tokyo. His decision to retire has come as a surprise to many fans and fellow skaters, but Uno explained that he wanted to focus on other aspects of his life and pursue new opportunities outside of sports.