Uno Shoma on post-competition life: "I'm discovering just how big the world is"
Four months after retiring, Japan's only three-time Olympic figure skating medallist offered an update on his new life after being the last to receive his re-allocated medal from Beijing 2022.
Figure Skating
For Uno Shoma, competing at the Olympic Games felt like an extension of his day job.
Now that he’s a spectator, watching it has been magical.
“For many athletes, I can imagine the Olympics being a lot with all the work they put in. I can imagine all the nerves,” Uno said on Tuesday (10 September) at Japan Olympic Committee headquarters, where the retired figure skater finally received his silver medal from the team event at Beijing 2022 following last month’s medal re-allocation which is now final.
“For me, I just worked day in, day out and the Olympics were there at the end of it. I was never super nervous about it but now that I’ve taken a step back from it all, I realise watching the Olympics is a more special experience than being in it.”
Uno Shoma - A whole new world awaits
Due to a schedule conflict, Uno was the only member of the Japanese team who could not make it to Paris for the Champions’ Park medal ceremony on 7 August.
The 26-year-old Uno - who hung up his skates in May - is now officially a three-time Olympic medallist, the most by a Japanese figure skater, even more than Hanyu Yuzuru or Asada Mao.
Four months removed from competitive skating and having hit the professional circuit, Uno, without going into specifics, says he has already learned a lot about what is out there and is excited for what the future holds.
“I’ve experienced so much in these last few months alone doing different things, thinking differently,” said Uno, whose most favourite event of Paris 2024 was the men’s gymnastics team competition.
“I haven’t yet decided what I want to do but I want to experience as much as I can as I find my own path.
“When I was competing that was everything to me and through competition I could show my worth. But now, I’m discovering just how big the world really is and I want to take matters into my very own hands.”
Uno will not be competing at the next Winter Games in Milano Cortina 2026 but offered his support to those who have taken the mantle from him, like Beijing 2022 silver medallist Kagiyama Yuma and women’s bronze medallist and three-time world champion Sakamoto Kaori.
“It’s a competitive world so not everyone will be happy in the end. I think the men’s qualifying, in particular, will be extremely competitive.
“It will be fun to watch as a spectator and while the Olympics is huge, I hope everyone finds what makes them happy and how they can go about achieving it while not getting too caught up about what is in front of them.”