Two-time ISU Figure Skating World Champion Shoma Uno announced he is starting an e-sports career. An avid gamer for many years, the retired top figure skater has found a new way for his competitive spirit to shine and joined the Japanese e-sports organization VARREL. 

“They [achievements in figure skating] are not something that will be passed down forever on their own—if I don’t continue to tell that story myself, they could fade away,” Uno said at a press conference. 

“If I become satisfied with the fame and status I have now and stop pushing forward, everything could eventually be forgotten. That’s why I wanted to broaden my activities through something I truly love: gaming,” the six-time Japanese Champion added.

Shoma Uno competes in the men's single skating short program at the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Gangneung, South Korea © Getty Images

Skating and Gaming Go Well Together for Uno

While he will continue to perform on the ice, Shoma Uno wants to share the joy of gaming with a wide audience through YouTube livestreams and e-sports events.

“My love for games is truly the same as the people watching—I put a lot of passion into it, so I think it’s something I can genuinely connect with everyone,” the 28-year-old said. “I’d love to turn what I enjoy into my work going forward.

“Gaming has always been my biggest hobby,” Uno shared in a statement published by VARREL. “By joining VARREL, I want to show everyone that I’m taking gaming beyond just a hobby and committing to it seriously.”

 Shoma Uno competes in the Men's Free Skating at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2022 in Montpellier, France. © ISU 

Uno’s Pro Skating and Ice Dance Adventures

Since stepping away from competing after a fantastic career in 2024, Uno has been keeping himself busy in ice shows mostly in Japan. The two-time Olympic medalist even produced his own show “Ice Brave” in 2025 that he wants to continue. 

However, more things are to come from Uno. “I have various things in the works, but there’s not much I can announce yet, so I hope you’ll look forward to it,” he noted.

Fans are wondering whether the Japanese skating star refers to the Ice Dance practice videos with his girlfriend, 2016 ISU World Junior Champion Marin Honda. Maybe Uno will be competing not only in the e-sports arena but also on the ice in a new discipline. 

Uno’s Figure Skating Achievements

Shoma Uno is a Japanese top figure skater and looks back at an amazing career:

• ISU World Champion 2022 & 2023
• Olympic silver medalist 2018 & Olympic bronze medalist 2022
• ISU World silver medalist 2017 & 2018
• Six-time ISU Grand Prix Finalist, winning a medal each time 
• ISU World Junior Champion 2015
• Six-time Japanese National Champion